Climate change trends and governance: History, contradictions and prospects

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to critically analyze climate change policy and governance. Drawing on the history of climate change anomalies and processes we examine why there is a gap between knowledge and action. This “gap” hypothesis postulates that a number of contradictions led policy and practices to be several steps behind the degree to which greenhouse gasses have been building up. This gap is set to continue through the Coppenhagen and future climate accords as the policy-making bodies have a weak commitment to global accord, mitigation and adaptation. The chapter starts with a brief history of climate change and the policy response. Then the core contradictions precipitating increasing levels of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere are scrutinized. Lastly, a review of current policies is undertaken to see how effective they are in addressing climate change.