Global Environmental Politics

Dilemmas in World Politics

by Pamela S. Chasek, David L. Downie, Janet Welsh Brown

Although discussions about the global environment are now a daily occurrence—from companies touting energy-saving products to politicians debating how to best address the issue of climate change and other environmental concerns—it remains a topic plagued by misinformation and ideologically skewed arguments. For more than twenty years, Global Environmental Politics has provided an up-to-date, accurate, and unbiased introduction to the world's most pressing environmental issues, and this new edition continues the tradition.

With new material on the latest international environmental regimes, the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, the challenges of regime implementation, and the impact of the global economic crises on the global environment, the authors offer a comprehensive overview of the environment and international politics. It is vital reading for anyone wishing to understand the current state of the field and to make informed decisions about which policies might best safeguard our environment for the future.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Sustainability, Climate Change

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2006

Reviews

[for-much-deliberation ...]

Exploring global environmental issues and related politics and economics, also looking at varied policies and protocols related to such and the work of NGOs and individuals within this arena...

[Diego]

Pamela Chasek et al. presentan los principales debates políticos en torno a los problemas ambientales. En particular su revisión de la formación de regímenes ambientales desde el régimen del ozono hasta el preambulo al acuerdo de Paris. Es un libro muy apropiado para que los economistas se introduzcan a temas ambientales pues gran parte de su argumentación esta informada por teorias económicas y datos sobre las economías avanzadas y emergentes.

[Fadlyalhadad]

hope

[Javi Belmonte]

Interesting and with a lot of insight on global environmental issues detailing different definitions of regimes, but very tedious and monotonous at times.

[Ike Sharpless]

Provides an overview of the laws, actors, and strategic challenges surrounding ten different international environmental regimes: whaling, toxics, climate change, ozone, biodiversity, fisheries, forests, and a coupla others.

I use this as one of two textbooks for my Intro to Environmental Studies class (along with Raven's "Environment", which provides the environmental science underpinnings). I personally think it's an enormously helpful book. It may be too dry and wordy for my students, so I've contemplated cutting it from my syllabus, but anyone interested in understanding how NGOs, states, corporations, and IOs work together (or apart) to foster global governance around these issues needs to understand the issues discussed in this book.

If you're looking for a "fun read", though, you're probably going to be let down...this is policy wonk stuff.

[Emilie]

Last year we had to read this book for a course at school. I never finished it because all pages werent required and the amount of time wasnt enough.

I decided to finish it and I finally did it.
It's a good introduction to global environmental politics and the dilemas in the political world. To make a quick summary; if the country of the politician isn't in particular danger of an environmental hazard, they become the VETO state. If they are in danger; they become the lead state. How about thinking a little bit about the big picutre instead of only yourself?

Loads of information and summits and names to remember, but it gives you a clearer view of the global environmental politics today.

[Danielle Ngo]

the 6th edition is great!