http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
Climate change, science, and the politics of shared sacrifice
xxiv, 375 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.
Designed for undergraduate courses in "climate change" politics within environmental studies, politics and international relations curricula, for which there presently is no basic textbook. The text will integrate science and policy within each chapter by considering technical issues but also their political implications. Moving beyond the "Does climate change exist?" question this text seeks to present the questions students need to address in an interdisciplinary approach seldom used in textbooks. Specialized texts are currently available to explain the scientific scope of the problem, the natural resource economics and the international diplomacy or public administration dimensions. But none explains all of these. This text will address these broad approaches, as well as considering the broad philosophical and ethical debates behind the specific issues raised. The premise of the book is that while the science of the problem is well understood, with several chapters devoted to solutions, climate change is also increasingly a political problem. The text will address "the collective action problem" early in the text, discuss the strength of the scientific evidence, the failure to come to terms with related social and political problems and discuss the scope of the problem and will address why so little has been done. The text will also consider the clash between theories of collective action and interest group theories, and the increasingly prevalent view of climate change as a security threat affecting some groups and countries more than others. The second part of the book discusses that there is no single magical solution, but there are many partial measure solutions which are already underway. We also discuss forms of solving the associated political problems but note that different solutions produce different "winners" and "losers." Changes to how we produce and consume energy will be driven by market forces and by steady efforts to inform the public. The best indications are that "sacrifice-based" solutions do still exist but that we all need to be informed and make choices that will lead us in that direction.
How humans tried to take control of nature : from cuddly "teddy bears" to the anthropogenic tempest of climate change -- Learning to listen to the earth : the evidence and the scope of the problem -- International relations and global climate politics -- The domestic politics of climate change : environmentalists versus energy interests and the fight for public attention -- Short-term versus long-term crude solutions : peak oil, fracking, and the "natural gas" bridge, and the promise of renewables -- Beyond the energy sector : technological transformations on the way to "decarbonization" -- The economics of carbon taxes and emissions trading, and who will foot the bill? -- Fixing Eden : ratcheting up ambition, deep decarbonization, and "Plan B" -- Sowing our gardens is not enough : what can we do as citizens and consumers?
Todd A. Eisenstadt, American University, Stephen E. MacAvoy, American University.
Includes bibliographical references and index.