Climate and the Environment

Chapter 11 sets out the economic organizational problems and distributional conflicts associated with the appropriation of natural resources and, above all, an unfolding climate crisis. In particular, it focuses on the role of capitalist diversity in the preconditions and strategies for the decarbonization of the economy. It shows how approaches from Comparative Political Economy offer explanations for understanding different climate policy trajectories and tensions. Based on this, the chapter examines the transnational dimension of climate and environmental issues with a view to the role of global trade and transnational governance initiatives. Finally, the chapter outlines a political economy of international climate policy, drawing on established theories of IPE and the lines of conflict to be found there.