Climate change in world politics

John Vogler examines the international politics of climate change, with a focus on the United Nations Framework Convention (UNFCCC).

He considers how the international system treats the problem of climate change, analysing the ways in which this has been defined by the international community and the interests and alignments of state governments.

Why are relatively obvious solutions avoided? How is the seemingly irrational behaviour of state governments to be explained?

What are the issues that lurk beneath the public declarations of future climate action?

What has been the impact of the enormous structural changes in the global political and economic systems since the signature of the Climate Convention in 1992?

Applying elements of International Relations theory to answer all these questions, the author provides an overview of the key issues which will be discussed at the 2015 Paris Conference of the Parties.