International Relations for the 21st Century S.
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Politically, the world is composed of states. Environmentally, the world is made up of ecosystems. The disconnect between these two systems makes addressing environmental issues globally both difficult and necessary. The study of global environmental politics draws on a variety of academic traditions. It uses international relations theory to look at the concerns and actions of states, but has also had to find a variety of new concepts and perspectives in order to explain issues unique to the study of the environment. Here, DeSombre examines four important aspects of the field: international environmental cooperation; the issues of science, uncertainty and risk; the experience of developing states in global environmental negotiations; and the role of non-state actors. In the second half of the book, she examines these issues through the use of case studies on specific problems facing the global environment, including ozone depletion and global climate change, the politics of whaling, the protection of Amazonian biodiversity and acid rain in Europe and North America.
Politically, the world is composed of states. Environmentally, the world is made up of ecosystems. This disconnection between ecological and political systems makes addressing environmental issues at the global level both more difficult and more necessary. This volume examines how we should set about addressing the problems that face the environment internationally. Elizabeth DeSombre explores four important approaches to the field: international environmental cooperation; the relationship between the environment and security; the issues of science, uncertainty and risk; and the role of non-state actors. She examines these approaches through case studies of specific problems facing the global environment, looking at ozone depletion and global climate change, the politics of whaling, the protection of Amazonian biodiversity, and acid rain in Europe and North America. To a large extent all environmental politics are global. The author argues that understanding what has led to successful protection of the global environment can give great insight into international relations theory more broadly.