International Environmental Policy : Interests and the Failure of the Kyoto Process

The Kyoto Protocol has singularly failed to shape international environmental policy-making in the way that the earlier Montreal Protocol had done. Whereas Montreal placed reliance on the force of science and moralistic injunctions to save the planet, and successfully determined the international response to climate change, Kyoto has proved significantly more problematic. International Environmental Policy considers why this is the case. The authors contend that such arguments on this occasion proved inadequate to the task, not just because the core issues of the Kyoto process were subject to more powerful and conflicting interests than previously, and the science too uncertain, but because the science and moral arguments themselves remained too weak. They argue that ‘global warmingвЂTM is a failing policy construct because it has served to benefit limited but undeclared interests that were sustained by green beliefs rather than robust scientific knowledge. This highly topical book takes a frank look at the political motivations that underpin the global warming debate, and will appeal to political scientists and energy policy analysts as well as anyone with an interest in the future of the environment and in the policies we create to protect it. The Book Does Not Attempt To Say What Should Be Done About Global Warming. Instead It Uses A Framework Of Thinking About How Interests Including Those Of Governments And Scientists As Well As Business And Activists Affect Negotiations Over International Issues. The Ultimate Aim Is To Reconsider The International Environmental Institutions That Attempt To Balance These Interests And Forge Workable Agreements. The Failure Of Kyoto Points To Inadequacies In The Current Mechanisms. Boehmer-christiansen And Kellow Have Made A Valuable Contribution To Understanding This Failure And Where Solutions Might Emerge. Ross Mckitrick, The World Economy The Kyoto Protocol Has Singularly Failed To Shape International Environmental Policy-making In The Way That The Earlier Montreal Protocol Did. Whereas Montreal Placed Reliance On The Force Of Science And Moralistic Injunctions To Save The Planet, And Successfully Determined The International Response To Climate Change, Kyoto Has Proved Significantly More Problematic. International Environmental Policy Considers Why This Is The Case. The Authors Contend That Such Arguments On This Occasion Proved Inadequate To The Task, Not Just Because The Core Issues Of The Kyoto Process Were Subject To More Powerful And Conflicting Interests Than Previously, And The Science Too Uncertain, But Because The Science And Moral Arguments Themselves Remained Too Weak. They Argue That Global Warming Is A Failing Policy Construct Because It Has Served To Benefit Limited But Undeclared Interests That Were Sustained By Green Beliefs Rather Than Robust Scientific Knowledge. This Highly Topical Book Takes A Frank Look At The Political Motivations That Underpin The Global Warming Debate, And Will Appeal To Political Scientists And Energy Policy Analysts As Well As Anyone With An Interest In The Future Of The Environment And In The Policies We Create To Protect It. The Kyoto Protocol Has Singularly Failed To Shape International Environmental Policy-making In The Way That The Earlier Montreal Protocol Had Done. Whereas Montreal Placed Reliance On The Force Of Science And Moralistic Injunctions To Save The Planet, And Successfully Determined The International Response To Climate Change, Kyoto Has Proved Significantly More Problematic. International Environmental Policy Considers Why This Is The Case. The Authors Contend That Such Arguments On This Occasion Proved Inadequate To The Task, Not Just Because The Core Issues Of The Kyoto Process Were Subject To More Powerful And Conflicting Interests Than Previously, And The Science Too Uncertain, But Because The Science And Moral Arguments Themselves Remained Too Weak. They Argue That 'global Warming' Is A Failing Policy Construct Because It Has Served To Benefit Limited But Undeclared Interests That Were Sustained By Green Beliefs Rather Than Robust Scientific Knowledge. This Book Takes A Look At The Political Motivations That Underpin The Global Warming Debate, And Will Appeal To Political Scientists And Energy Policy Analysts As Well As Anyone With An Interest In The Future Of The Environment And In The Politics We Create To Protect It.--jacket. Introduction -- The International Environmental Policy Process : Increasing Complexity And Implementation Failure -- Energy Interests, Opportunities And Uneven Burden-sharing -- The Kyoto Process -- The Failure Of Principled Discourse -- Institutionalizing Scientific Advice : Designing Consensus As A Policy Driver? -- The Suppression Of Scientific Controversy -- Baptists, Bootleggers And The Kyoto Process. Sonja Boehmer-christiansen, Aynsley Kellow. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 187-204) And Index. Boehmer-Christiansen and Kellow candidly argue that the Kyoto Protocol (2001) was not as successful as the earlier Montreal Protocol because of conflicting political interests. Since the mid-1980s efforts have been made to combat global warming by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, generated by the combustion of fossil fuels, including coal and oil. The Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change was finally signed - without the USA - in November 2001 in Marrakesh. Leaders of the United States (the largest emitter of greenhouse gases) refused to sign the protocol, citing economic unfairness, scientific uncertainty, and objecting to UN-dominated globalization. The authors argue that, until individual states' political interests are reconciled, scientific findings will have no weight. This book contributes to the literature on global environmental policy, but given its sophisticated terminology, it is best suited for advanced graduate students and scholars of environmental policy. It should be read along with other recent books, such as David G. Victor's The Collapse of the Kyoto Protocol and the Struggle to Slow Global Warming (Princeton University Press, 2001). -Johanna Granville, PhD (Stanford U.) The Kyoto protocol has singularly failed to shape international environmental policy-making in the way that the earlier Montreal protocol had done. Whereas Montreal placed reliance on the force of science and moralistic injunctions to save the planet, and successfully determined the international response to climate change, Kyoto has provided significantly more problematic. "International Environmental Policy" considers why this is the case. The authors contend that such arguments on this occasion proved inadequate to the task, not just because the core issues of the Kyoto process were subject