Adaptive Governance and Climate Change

by Ronald D. Brunner, Amanda H. Lynch

Overview

While recent years have seen undeniable progress in international acknowledgement both of the dangers of climate change and the importance of working to mitigate it, little has actually been done. Emissions continue to rise, and even the ambitious targets set by international accords would fall far short of the drastic cuts that are needed to prevent catastrophe.

            
With Adaptive Governance and Climate Change, Ronald D. Brunner and Amanda H. Lynch argue that we need to take a new tack, moving away from reliance on centralized, top-down approaches—the treaties and accords that have proved disappointingly ineffective thus far—and towards a more flexible, multi-level approach. Based in the principles of adaptive governance—which are designed to produce programs that adapt quickly and easily to new information and experimental results—such an approach would encourage diversity and innovation in the search for solutions, while at the same time pointedly recasting the problem as one in which every culture and community around the world has an inherent interest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781878220974
Publisher:	American Meteorological Society
Publication date:	04/15/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	404
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Ronald D. Brunner is a policy scientist specializing in the integration of theory and practice. Amanda H. Lynch is head of Monash Climate and a professor in the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Monash University.

Ronald D. Brunner is a policy scientist specializing in the integration of theory and practice. Amanda H. Lynch is head of Monash Climate and a professor in the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Monash University.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xi

Acronyms xiv

Boxes and Figures xvii

1 Clarifying the Problem 1

An Appraisal 2

Constructing the Context 7

The Common Interest 22

2 The Regime Evolves 31

Science 32

Policy and Decision Making 52

Exceptions 68

3 Barrow as Microcosm 105

Historical Contexts 107

Vulnerabilities 128

Policy Responses 156

4 Opening the Regime 187

Intensive Inquiry 188

Procedurally Rational Policy 211

Decentralized Decision Making 235

5 Reframing the Context 261

Next Steps 263

Relevant Past 276

Possible Futures 294

Notes 317

Index 397

Editorial Reviews

Brunner and Lynch present a feasible, integrative mode of democratic decision making that, if wisely applied, can avert the disastrous consequences of so many ambitious public initiatives.”

Michael Reisman

Brunner and Lynch offer a persuasive alternative to the ‘big science, big politics’ formula for combating global climate change.”

Matthew R. Auer

In the wake of Copenhagen, this book couldn’t be more timely for those genuinely concerned about climate change and disappointed with the outcomes of climate policies to date. Brunner and Lynch have provided a much-needed reframing of climate science, policy, and decision making in the context of adaptive governance.”

Judith A. Curry

Finding ways to reduce the risk of dangerous climate change is going to require policy experts and climate scientists to learn how to work together. This fascinating and provocative book is proof that such unusual collaborations can actually succeed.”

Richard Somerville