Turning Down the Heat: The Politics of Climate Policy in Affluent Democracies

by H. Compston, I. Bailey

Overview

This study analyses the politics of climate policy in a range of affluent democracies and at EU level in order to identify political strategies that would make it easier for governments to make major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions without sustaining significant political damage.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230202047
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	10/31/2008
Edition description:	2008
Pages:	302
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.70(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

HUGH COMPSTON is a Reader in the Department of Politics, Cardiff School of European Studies, Cardiff University, UK, and has written extensively on public policy and policy-making. Recent publications include King Trends and the Future of Public Policy (2006), and Handbook of Public Policy in Europe: Britain, France and Germany (edited, 2004).

IAN BAILEY is a Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Plymouth, UK. He has published widely on the use of economic instruments and voluntary agreements in UK, EU and Australian climate policy, and on the construction of multi-level climate governance regimes.

Table of Contents

Introduction; H.Compston  & I.Bailey PART I: CONTEXT Climate Policy: Issues and Opportunities; T.Barker Political Science Perspectives on Climate Policy; G.Bryner The International Dimension of Climate Policy; D.Davenport PART II: ANALYSIS The European Union and the Politics of Multi-Level Climate Governance; C.Damro  & D.McKenzie Federal Climate Politics in the United States: Polarization and Paralysis; P.Brewer  & A.Pease Hot Air and Cold Feet: The UK Response to Climate Change; I.Lorenzoni, T.O'Riordan  & N.Pidgeon France: Towards an Alternative Climate Policy Template?; J.Szarka German Climate Policy between Global Leadership and Muddling Through; A.Michaelowa Conflict and Consensus: The Swedish Model of Climate Politics; L.Friberg Prometheanism and the Greek Energy Zugzwang; I.Botetzagias Facing up to the Greenhouse Challenge? Australian Climate Politics; I.Bailey  & S.Maresh Explaining the Failure of Canadian Climate Policy; D.Mcdonald Climate Policy in the United States: State and Regional Leadership; A.M.Chatrchyan  & P.M.Doughman PART III: CONCLUSIONS Political Strategy and Climate Policy; H.Compston  & I.Bailey

Editorial Reviews

'...a major contribution.' - Professor Lord Anthony Giddens, former Director of the London School of Economics

'Comprehensive in its coverage of the many political dimensions of the climate change problematique... Just the kind of book that vote-seeking politicians should read before making new policy pronouncements on climate change.' - Professor Andrew Jordan, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK

'...the coeditors and chapter authors have ambitiously offered critical ways forward for the difficult challenges of climate politics and policy in the 21st century...I strongly recommend the volume...' - Maxwell Boykoff, Government and Policy

'[This book] can, and should, be read by decision makers at all levels of governmental responsibility [...] it can also help inquisitive members of the public gain a deeper knowledge of the complexities and compromises imposed by working within democratic systems. [...] This reviewer strongly recommends this informative and well-written compliation of papers for anyone seeking an understanding of the factors that drive or constrain decision makers at this critical period when time is running short if we wish to avoid global catastrophe.' - Dennis Wheeler, The Geographical Journal

From the Publisher