Pathologies of Climate Governance : International Relations, National Politics and Human Nature

An overview of the obstacles to effective climate governance which are leading to a worsening of the climate crisis. International relations, national policies, and psychosocial factors such as overconsumption and global capitalism are explored, as well as potential remedies on the international, national, and individual level.

Earth''s climate is in crisis. Climate governance has failed. This book diagnoses climate governance as if it were a sick patient, uncovering the fundamental factors causing the worsening climate crisis. It distils decades of global climate negotiations to reveal the features of international relations that are impeding climate action, and it identifies political obstacles to climate governance across a variety of countries in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The psychosocial aspects of climate change are explored to show how human nature, overconsumption, and global capitalism conspire to stymy climate action. Remedies are suggested for how to overcome hurdles to effective climate governance internationally and nationally, with ideas provided for individuals to help them align their own interests with those of the global environment. Covering all of the major recent events in climate politics and governance, this is an accessible book for concerned readers who want to understand the climate crisis.