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Politics of Climate Change
"A landmark study in the struggle to contain climate change, the greatest challenge of our era. I urge everyone to read it."
Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America Climate change differs from any other problem that, as collective humanity, we face today. If it goes unchecked, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic for human life on earth. Yet for most people, and for many policy-makers too, it tends to be a 'back of the mind' issue. We recognise its importance and even its urgency, but for the most part it is swamped by more immediate concerns. Politicians have woken up to the dangers, but at the moment their responses are mainly on the level of gesture rather than being, as they have to be, both concrete and radical.
Political action and intervention, on local, national and international levels, is going to have a decisive effect on whether or not we can limit global warming, as well as how we adapt to that already occurring. At the moment, however, Anthony Giddens argues controversially, we do not have a systematic politics of climate change. Politics-as-usual won't allow us to deal with the problems we face, while the recipes of the main challenger to orthodox politics, the green movement, are flawed at source. Giddens introduces a range of new concepts and proposals to fill in the gap, and examines in depth the connections between climate change and energy security.
This book is likely to become a classic in the field. It will be of appeal to everyone concerned about how we can cope with what amounts to a crisis for our civilisation.
Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America Climate change differs from any other problem that, as collective humanity, we face today. If it goes unchecked, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic for human life on earth. Yet for most people, and for many policy-makers too, it tends to be a 'back of the mind' issue. We recognise its importance and even its urgency, but for the most part it is swamped by more immediate concerns. Politicians have woken up to the dangers, but at the moment their responses are mainly on the level of gesture rather than being, as they have to be, both concrete and radical.
Political action and intervention, on local, national and international levels, is going to have a decisive effect on whether or not we can limit global warming, as well as how we adapt to that already occurring. At the moment, however, Anthony Giddens argues controversially, we do not have a systematic politics of climate change. Politics-as-usual won't allow us to deal with the problems we face, while the recipes of the main challenger to orthodox politics, the green movement, are flawed at source. Giddens introduces a range of new concepts and proposals to fill in the gap, and examines in depth the connections between climate change and energy security.
This book is likely to become a classic in the field. It will be of appeal to everyone concerned about how we can cope with what amounts to a crisis for our civilisation.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
18 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Giddens
176 books431 followersAnthony Giddens, Baron Giddens (born 18 January 1938) is a British sociologist who is renowned for his theory of structuration and his holistic view of modern societies. He is considered to be one of the most prominent modern contributors in the field of sociology, the author of at least 34 books, published in at least 29 languages, issuing on average more than one book every year. In 2007, Giddens was listed as the fifth most-referenced author of books in the humanities.
Three notable stages can be identified in his academic life. The first one involved outlining a new vision of what sociology is, presenting a theoretical and methodological understanding of that field, based on a critical reinterpretation of the classics. His major publications of that era include Capitalism and Modern Social Theory (1971) and New Rules of Sociological Method (1976). In the second stage Giddens developed the theory of structuration, an analysis of agency and structure, in which primacy is granted to neither. His works of that period, such as Central Problems in Social Theory (1979) and The Constitution of Society (1984), brought him international fame on the sociological arena.
The most recent stage concerns modernity, globalization and politics, especially the impact of modernity on social and personal life. This stage is reflected by his critique of postmodernity, and discussions of a new "utopian-realist"[3] third way in politics, visible in the Consequence of Modernity (1990), Modernity and Self-Identity (1991), The Transformation of Intimacy (1992), Beyond Left and Right (1994) and The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy (1998). Giddens' ambition is both to recast social theory and to re-examine our understanding of the development and trajectory of modernity.
Currently Giddens serves as Emeritus Professor at the London School of Economics.
Three notable stages can be identified in his academic life. The first one involved outlining a new vision of what sociology is, presenting a theoretical and methodological understanding of that field, based on a critical reinterpretation of the classics. His major publications of that era include Capitalism and Modern Social Theory (1971) and New Rules of Sociological Method (1976). In the second stage Giddens developed the theory of structuration, an analysis of agency and structure, in which primacy is granted to neither. His works of that period, such as Central Problems in Social Theory (1979) and The Constitution of Society (1984), brought him international fame on the sociological arena.
The most recent stage concerns modernity, globalization and politics, especially the impact of modernity on social and personal life. This stage is reflected by his critique of postmodernity, and discussions of a new "utopian-realist"[3] third way in politics, visible in the Consequence of Modernity (1990), Modernity and Self-Identity (1991), The Transformation of Intimacy (1992), Beyond Left and Right (1994) and The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy (1998). Giddens' ambition is both to recast social theory and to re-examine our understanding of the development and trajectory of modernity.
Currently Giddens serves as Emeritus Professor at the London School of Economics.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 1, 2019
I could only get through three chapters but there is next to no useful information in this book. I suppose I benefited from a note on the various technologies available to us but that was mainly due to my complete ignorance on the topic.
The last chapter is extremely superfluous, he says he will describe how oil politics and carbon politics relate but such a description is nowhere to be found.
The last chapter is extremely superfluous, he says he will describe how oil politics and carbon politics relate but such a description is nowhere to be found.
July 16, 2018
I am extremely interested in climate change and I read all the books that come out. How I missed this book when it came out 5 years ago is a big mystery to me.
But becoming aware of the book I skimmed the whole thing. It is a very big and detailed work, now out of date and largely wrong.
When it was published it would have been 3 or even 4 stars, but it is no longer worth reading.
But becoming aware of the book I skimmed the whole thing. It is a very big and detailed work, now out of date and largely wrong.
When it was published it would have been 3 or even 4 stars, but it is no longer worth reading.
May 23, 2013
A clear and accessible summary…
In this book, Giddens firstly urges us to accept the overwhelming consensus of opinion amongst scientists that climate change is real and caused by the actions of humanity, and then goes on to consider what actions will be required if we are to overcome this global threat.
Over the first few chapters, Giddens looks at where we are now. He starts by giving an overview of the scientific evidence and discusses the counter-arguments of sceptics and radicals, concluding that the science strongly supports the position that climate change is happening, is caused by human activity and is likely to have catastrophic consequences if action is not taken quickly. He looks at the availability of oil, gas and coal and how their production and use have shaped and changed international relationships and policy since the Second World War. He goes on to discuss the rise of 'green' politics and whether they offer any real solutions to the problems facing us.
In the next few sections, Giddens lays out his stall for the approaches he thinks are required. He argues strongly for a lead to be taken by governments of nation states individually (rather than waiting for the outcome of lengthy international negotiations) to develop policies that will encourage reductions in emissions - particularly through the use of the tax system and the encouragement of technological innovation. He highlights that climate change questions have, to some degree, become seen to be a 'left-wing' concern and points out that it is essential to success that all-party support is given to measures if they are to be accepted by those who will be affected. He urges strongly the principle of 'polluter pays' and suggests this should be extended to look at the developed world's responsibility to ensure support for developing and undeveloped countries in combatting climate change and in adapting to its effects.
Finally, Giddens looks at how international co-operation has developed to date and how he sees it progressing. He suggests that, as well as the various groupings of countries that are coming into being to tackle the issues regionally, the UN still has a vital role to play in monitoring and holding states to internationally agreed targets.
The book is well written and aimed at a general audience. It is a succinct account of where we are now and provides food for thought on how we might progress. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the on-going climate change debate (and, as this book makes clear, it affects us all). I found it a clear and accessible summary of the main arguments.
NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
In this book, Giddens firstly urges us to accept the overwhelming consensus of opinion amongst scientists that climate change is real and caused by the actions of humanity, and then goes on to consider what actions will be required if we are to overcome this global threat.
Over the first few chapters, Giddens looks at where we are now. He starts by giving an overview of the scientific evidence and discusses the counter-arguments of sceptics and radicals, concluding that the science strongly supports the position that climate change is happening, is caused by human activity and is likely to have catastrophic consequences if action is not taken quickly. He looks at the availability of oil, gas and coal and how their production and use have shaped and changed international relationships and policy since the Second World War. He goes on to discuss the rise of 'green' politics and whether they offer any real solutions to the problems facing us.
In the next few sections, Giddens lays out his stall for the approaches he thinks are required. He argues strongly for a lead to be taken by governments of nation states individually (rather than waiting for the outcome of lengthy international negotiations) to develop policies that will encourage reductions in emissions - particularly through the use of the tax system and the encouragement of technological innovation. He highlights that climate change questions have, to some degree, become seen to be a 'left-wing' concern and points out that it is essential to success that all-party support is given to measures if they are to be accepted by those who will be affected. He urges strongly the principle of 'polluter pays' and suggests this should be extended to look at the developed world's responsibility to ensure support for developing and undeveloped countries in combatting climate change and in adapting to its effects.
Finally, Giddens looks at how international co-operation has developed to date and how he sees it progressing. He suggests that, as well as the various groupings of countries that are coming into being to tackle the issues regionally, the UN still has a vital role to play in monitoring and holding states to internationally agreed targets.
The book is well written and aimed at a general audience. It is a succinct account of where we are now and provides food for thought on how we might progress. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the on-going climate change debate (and, as this book makes clear, it affects us all). I found it a clear and accessible summary of the main arguments.
NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
August 11, 2017
Una panoramica abbastanza completa delle possibili conseguenze delle nostre azioni, condita da interessanti correzioni possibili e già effettuate per migliorare la situazione drammatica in cui ci troviamo.
Lettura fondamentale per prendere coscienza del guaio in cui ci siamo ficcati, ma da cui possiamo, seppur con sforzo immane, ancora salvarci.
Lettura fondamentale per prendere coscienza del guaio in cui ci siamo ficcati, ma da cui possiamo, seppur con sforzo immane, ancora salvarci.
September 1, 2018
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3069817.html
This book was published in 2009 and is already very dated. Climate change is a topic that I orbit around a bit at work (more so in my last job) and it’s striking to realise just how much the debate has moved on in the last nine or ten years. Most obviously, carbon markets fell way out of fashion with the 2008 crash, and the big focus now is on renewables (Giddens just missed the German Energiewende). But also the Paris climate accord looks even more remarkable from the 2009 perspective than from the 2018 perspective; the points of reference of the global debate have completely changed. Another crucial development, which Giddens barely hoped for but is now a fundamental part of the dynamic, is the shift of Chinese policy in favour of environmental issues. This is enough to make the US federal government much less relevant, thought perhaps not much less dangerous (Gidddens spends some time agonising about Bush and post-Bush policies; we did not know we had it so good).
There are good questions to be asked about whether vaguely democratic and vaguely capitalist systems will find the necessary impetus to implement the massive changes that are needed. The scale of the problem is even starker now than it was a decade ago. But I was cheered by reading this book and realising that the debate does move on. I hope it will move fast enough.
This book was published in 2009 and is already very dated. Climate change is a topic that I orbit around a bit at work (more so in my last job) and it’s striking to realise just how much the debate has moved on in the last nine or ten years. Most obviously, carbon markets fell way out of fashion with the 2008 crash, and the big focus now is on renewables (Giddens just missed the German Energiewende). But also the Paris climate accord looks even more remarkable from the 2009 perspective than from the 2018 perspective; the points of reference of the global debate have completely changed. Another crucial development, which Giddens barely hoped for but is now a fundamental part of the dynamic, is the shift of Chinese policy in favour of environmental issues. This is enough to make the US federal government much less relevant, thought perhaps not much less dangerous (Gidddens spends some time agonising about Bush and post-Bush policies; we did not know we had it so good).
There are good questions to be asked about whether vaguely democratic and vaguely capitalist systems will find the necessary impetus to implement the massive changes that are needed. The scale of the problem is even starker now than it was a decade ago. But I was cheered by reading this book and realising that the debate does move on. I hope it will move fast enough.
November 1, 2022
A difficult one to review, especially because the book is outdated by now. My copy was published in 2011 but times have changed significantly with the passing of an entire decade. An interesting (but often made) observation in the book is the link between energy security, global power politics and combatting climate change. But ten years on, the analysis feels redundant. Much has turned out quite differently. A less enjoyable feature of the book is that it doesn't offer enough fresh insights or analyses. The biggest turn-off was the author's strange decision to name a very self-evident paradox after himself (Gidden's Paradox: 'since the dangers posed by global warming aren't tangible, immediate or visible in the course of day-to-day life, many will sit on their hands and do nothing of a concrete nature about them'). That's about it, I hope to find better books on this topic in the future.
May 7, 2019
Comprehensive, lucid, insightful but, unfortunately already somewhat overtaken by events. It covers a great deal of ground, both metaphorically and (as its scope is global) literally, moving fluently from theme to theme. If you need a text that shows you both the extreme urgency for action on climate change and the extraordinary difficulty of doing so effectively, here it is.
The weakness of the book is that it pre-dates the increase of populism and the appearance of reactionary, climate-change denying governments, in the USA and Brazil, for example, which compound the difficulties that the human species faces.
The weakness of the book is that it pre-dates the increase of populism and the appearance of reactionary, climate-change denying governments, in the USA and Brazil, for example, which compound the difficulties that the human species faces.
March 26, 2024
Good read. Lots of reviews tearing this book down for not being relevant after over a decade, there are plenty of well argued and balanced points made that ring true today. Guy wasn’t a psychic why would you expect a book written on current events in 2012 to still be relevant today? Don’t listen to em Anthony it’s a good book
November 15, 2020
Helpful and in 2020 still relevant overview of political concepts, interdependencies and constellations concerning climate change. Some parts of it I found less than well structured and with an unclear message.
I enjoyed most reading the last two chapters.
I enjoyed most reading the last two chapters.
April 3, 2023
Chapter 1 is not useful
Chapter 2 & 3 is outdated
Chapter 4 is not quite relevant
The structure of the book bothers me. And I’m no longer interested in reading the suggestions the author might suggest in later chapter
Chapter 2 & 3 is outdated
Chapter 4 is not quite relevant
The structure of the book bothers me. And I’m no longer interested in reading the suggestions the author might suggest in later chapter
January 14, 2019
Un buen libro para entender todo lo referente al cambio climático, qué lo origina y sus consecuencias.
November 4, 2023
You can really tell this was written in 2009.
July 29, 2010
In December, delegates from across the world will gather in Denmark to
attempt a global deal on climate change. But for anyone expecting a planet-saving breakthrough in Copenhagen, Anthony Giddens has some advice: “Don’t hold your breath”.
In The Politics of Climate Change, Giddens argues that bilateral
agreements between countries doing the most damage to the environment – notably the United States and China – can deliver much more than treaties covering the entire international community.
Even if a deal is hammered out in Copenhagen, national governments will make or break its execution. Only governments, says Giddens, have access to a toolbox of powerful measures – from supporting green technologies to taxing the sources of pollution – that can make a difference on climate change. More importantly, governments can keep climate change at the top of the public agenda when other issues, such
as economic recession, threaten to topple it.
The author can, at times, veer into Utopia. He suggests, for example, that life “beyond the car” might feature a digital system of vehicles controlled by robots. More helpful is his overview of environmental success stories. Giddens believes countries such as Sweden, Iceland and Costa Rica have achieved lower carbon emissions by helping their citizens to bridge the gap between everyday actions and climate chaos.
The Giddens blueprint brims over with bright ideas, from geoengineering
to climate insurance, energy security to carbon capture and storage. But he acknowledges that even the most inventive of projects will fail without behavioural change:“One hundred books on one hundred ways to reduce your carbon footprint will have less effect than just one that is
geared to what people are positively motivated to do.”
All eyes now turn to Copenhagen. But for Anthony Giddens, any agreement on climate change will need swift and sustained action from the planet’s biggest polluters. Otherwise, a treaty signed in the homeland of Hans Christian Andersen may come to be seen as little more than a fairy tale.
attempt a global deal on climate change. But for anyone expecting a planet-saving breakthrough in Copenhagen, Anthony Giddens has some advice: “Don’t hold your breath”.
In The Politics of Climate Change, Giddens argues that bilateral
agreements between countries doing the most damage to the environment – notably the United States and China – can deliver much more than treaties covering the entire international community.
Even if a deal is hammered out in Copenhagen, national governments will make or break its execution. Only governments, says Giddens, have access to a toolbox of powerful measures – from supporting green technologies to taxing the sources of pollution – that can make a difference on climate change. More importantly, governments can keep climate change at the top of the public agenda when other issues, such
as economic recession, threaten to topple it.
The author can, at times, veer into Utopia. He suggests, for example, that life “beyond the car” might feature a digital system of vehicles controlled by robots. More helpful is his overview of environmental success stories. Giddens believes countries such as Sweden, Iceland and Costa Rica have achieved lower carbon emissions by helping their citizens to bridge the gap between everyday actions and climate chaos.
The Giddens blueprint brims over with bright ideas, from geoengineering
to climate insurance, energy security to carbon capture and storage. But he acknowledges that even the most inventive of projects will fail without behavioural change:“One hundred books on one hundred ways to reduce your carbon footprint will have less effect than just one that is
geared to what people are positively motivated to do.”
All eyes now turn to Copenhagen. But for Anthony Giddens, any agreement on climate change will need swift and sustained action from the planet’s biggest polluters. Otherwise, a treaty signed in the homeland of Hans Christian Andersen may come to be seen as little more than a fairy tale.
March 25, 2012
A good one volume introduction to the debate, the skeptics, the Green movement and possible agendas for change at a nation-state, European and international level. While I do to some extent agree that macro-level policy change is going to be necessary, Giddens' focus on this, to the extent that he excludes any discussion of local government or community initiatives, seems a bit out of touch with the broader politics of climate change. There's plenty going on, and lots of possibilities at a local and regional level, but you'd never know it from reading this text.
February 2, 2017
I stayed up all night to finish this and in the end he book really does what it says, Giddens talk about politics of climate change and I think he did an excellent job.
He covered from scientific proves to skeptics, from history of tackling climate change to today's international negotiations and even what he proposed for the future.
I liked the book it goes in depth and really tackles how he said politics within the changes and problems and isn't just talking generally about them. Also i am so sleep deprived that idek what am i writing anymore
He covered from scientific proves to skeptics, from history of tackling climate change to today's international negotiations and even what he proposed for the future.
I liked the book it goes in depth and really tackles how he said politics within the changes and problems and isn't just talking generally about them. Also i am so sleep deprived that idek what am i writing anymore
November 16, 2015
Giddens quer ser tão interdisciplinar que acaba se embananando um pouco com alguns conceitos-chave de áreas fora de seu domínio. Mas não chega a atrapalhar (muito) a mensagem principal do livro, que defende a convergência de interesses - ambientais, políticos e econômicos - como resposta para a redução do impacto provocado pela mudança climática.
August 24, 2017
Inventeur de la "troisième voie", Anthony Giddens s'est recyclé dans l'environnement, dont il présente ici tout ce qu'il faut savoir (du moins en 2011, ça change vite) de la science elle même, puis des rapports de force politiques pour arriver -- ou ne pas arriver -- à agir résolument.
Extrêmement utile.
Extrêmement utile.
February 19, 2016
Worth reading but take it with a grain of salt. In personal experience it's getting warmer and storms are getting bigger, coffee is more expensive because the crop is failing, I can see warming happening. As to what we can do about it I'm not sure. If everyone does a little, there are so many of us on the planet that that becomes a lot.
Read
November 12, 2010A good overview of the politics of climate change, in which Giddens also asserts his own opinions. The first book I've been assigned for a class that I've actually read (instead of just skimming, scanning, taking notes, reading sections) in years.
November 15, 2011
We need more books like it. Well written and touching upon one of the most (if not THE most) important topics of our time. If it wasn't about such serious,scary and real things I'd say it's a very good read.
December 19, 2012
Finished it in less than a day, hardly over 200 pages and a decent read, information is not new and with the recent UN meet in doha, things have changed big time so it makes this book little out dated. Nice read though.
May 16, 2010
"No strategy is likely to work that concentrates solely upon provoking fear and anxiety"
Read
February 2, 2016hhh
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews