Questions

Chapter 1. Dysfunction in Climate Governance

1. What is climate change, and who — or what — is causing it? How might climate change be described as a political problem as much as an environmental one?
2. How might the governance of climate change be described as “pathological”?
3. How might theory be useful in helping us to understand climate governance. What are the potential limitations of theory when analyzing this topic?
4. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?

Chapter 2. The Worsening Climate Crisis

1. What are the trends in global greenhouse gas emissions? Why are these trends important for understanding the challenge of climate governance?
2. What are the trends in global warming and the impacts of climate change? Why are these trends important for understanding the challenge of climate governance?
3. How has climate science been politicized, and for what purpose? How has this affected climate governance?
4. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?

Chapter 3. Pathologies of International Relations

1. How has the international system of sovereign states, and its underlying rationale, affected humanity’s responses to climate change?
2. How might nation-states define and protect their national interests in the context of climate change?
3. How have nation-states sought to govern climate change from the “top down” and from the “bottom up”?
4. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?

Chapter 4. Pathologies of National Politics in the United States and China

1. Describe how the United States has governed climate change. What explains climate change politics in the United States?
2. Describe how China has governed climate change. What explains climate change politics in China?
3. What is similar and what is different about American and Chinese climate change politics? What explains those similarities and differences?
4. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?

Chapter 5. Pathologies of National Politics in the Global North

1. Describe how the European Union and its member states have governed climate change. What explains climate change politics in Europe?
2. Describe how Russia has governed climate change. What explains climate change politics in Russia?
3. Describe how Australia, Canada and Japan have governed climate change. What explains climate change politics in these countries?
4. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?

Chapter 6. Pathologies of National Politics in the Global South

1. Describe how India and Brazil have governed climate change. What explains climate change politics in these countries?
2. Compare and contrast climate governance in small-island states and oil-rich states. What explains their climate change politics?
3. How are perceptions of national interests significant for climate governance? Give examples from several Northern and Southern countries.
4. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?

Chapter 7. Pathologies of Human Nature

1. How and to what extent are the growth and size of human population important for climate governance?
2. What roles do material consumption and economic growth play in climate change and its governance?
3. How have global overconsumption and the emergence of the “neoconsumers” influenced climate change and its governance?
4. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?

Chapter 8. Reconsidering International, National and Human Governance

1. Which considerations of the international governance of climate change described in Chapter 8 do you find to be most compelling, and why?
2. Which considerations of the national governance of climate change described in Chapter 8 do you find to be most compelling, and why?
3. Which considerations of the human governance of climate change described in Chapter 8 do you find to be most compelling, and why?
4. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?

Chapter 9. Prescriptions for Governing Climate Change

1. Which of the prescriptions for international relations described in Chapter 9 do you find to be most compelling, and why?
2. Which of the prescriptions for national politics described in Chapter 9 do you find to be most compelling, and why?
3. Which of the prescriptions for human nature described in Chapter 9 do you find to be most compelling, and why?
4. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?

Chapter 10. Policies and Prospects for Climate Governance

1. Which of the policies for climate governance described in Chapter 10 do you find to be most compelling, and why?
2. Which of the prospects for climate governance described in Chapter 10 do you believe to be most likely, and why?
3. Consider recent events around the world. How do they illustrate, reinforce or challenge ideas in this chapter?
4. Are you convinced by the book’s analyses and arguments? Why or why not? Use real-world examples to support your answer.