A Climate of Injustice: Global Inequality, North-South Politics, and Climate Policy

by J. Timmons Roberts, Bradley Parks

The global debate over who should take action to address climate change is extremely precarious, as diametrically opposed perceptions of climate justice threaten the prospects for any long-term agreement. Poor nations fear limits on their efforts to grow economically and meet the needs of their own people, while powerful industrial nations, including the United States, refuse to curtail their own excesses unless developing countries make similar sacrifices. Meanwhile, although industrialized countries are responsible for 60 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, developing countries suffer the "worst and first" effects of climate-related disasters, including droughts, floods, and storms, because of their geographical locations. In A Climate of Injustice , J. Timmons Roberts and Bradley Parks analyze the role that inequality between rich and poor nations plays in the negotiation of global climate agreements. Roberts and Parks argue that global inequality dampens cooperative efforts by reinforcing the "structuralist" worldviews and causal beliefs of many poor nations, eroding conditions of generalized trust, and promoting particularistic notions of "fair" solutions. They develop new measures of climate-related inequality, analyzing fatality and homelessness rates from hydrometeorological disasters, patterns of "emissions inequality," and participation in international environmental regimes. Until we recognize that reaching a North-South global climate pact requires addressing larger issues of inequality and striking a global bargain on environment and development, Roberts and Parks argue, the current policy gridlock will remain unresolved.

Genres: Sociology, Politics

404 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2006

Reviews

[Ime'... Imelda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really like this book, but only to chapter 5 and the beginning of chapter 6; afterward, I’m completely lost (i think because there are too many political issues that i don't really interested in).

This book is describing the injustice that happens in the area of climate change. I suddenly realize that this book is an eye opening, especially for me who only knew that the injustice happens, simply because there are developed countries, developing countries and least developed countries. But this book unfolds more facts than what I was saying above.

I like the use of language too, though I finally gave up in chapter 7. But I think its language is quite simple that lots of people would understand. For me, this book is more than a non-fiction book, it is more like a diary of a politician that consists ideas, opinions and stuffs; it’s really a nice one. That’s why, I kind of liking it.
But, to be honest, I’m not recommending this book to the beginners in climate change. But someone who has an intermediate level of climate change knowledge, this book is interesting indeed.

ime'...