Feeling the Heat: The Politics of Climate Policy in Rapidly Industrializing Countries(Energy, Climate and the Environment)

If dangerous climate change is to be avoided, greenhouse gas emissions will have to be brought under control in emerging major emitters such as China, India, Russia and Brazil. What are the political obstacles to climate policy in these countries? What political strategies can their governments use to strengthen climate policies without incurring serious political damage? Building on its predecessor volume, Turning Down the Heat: The Politics of Climate Policy in Affluent Democracies (Palgrave Macmillan 2008), this book includes contributions on the scientific, economic and international dimensions of climate change and climate policy. The authors describe the nature and sources of greenhouse gas emissions, the history of climate policies, and the political strategies employed by governments before conclusions are drawn about the main political obstacles facing industrializing countries on climate policy and how these might be overcome.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; I.Bailey & H.Compston PART I: CONTEXT Climate Policy: Issues and Opportunities for Rapidly Industrializing Countries; T.Barker BRICS in the Global Climate Regime: Rapidly Industrializing Countries and International Climate Negotiations; D.Davenport Ever Closer Partnerships? European Union Relations with Rapidly Industrializing Countries on Climate Change; S.Afionis & I.Bailey The United States and Rapidly Industrializing Countries: Climate Policy in Bilateral Relations; P.Harris PART II: ANALYSIS Supporting China's Green Leap Forward: Political Strategies for China's Climate Policies; M.Schroder India and Climate Change: Energy, Equity and Development; S.Fisher More than Hot Air: The Economics and Politics of Climate Change in Russia; N.Howarth & A.Foxall Climate Politics in Brazil: Public Awareness, Social Transformations and Emissions Reduction; E.Viola & M.Franchini PART III: CONCLUSIONS Political Strategy and Climate Policy in Rapidly Industrializing Countries; I.Bailey & H.Compston

About the Author :
IAN BAILEY is Associate Professor of Human Geography at the University of Plymouth, UK. He specializes in European and UK climate policy, carbon markets and energy policy. HUGH COMPSTONis Professor of Politics at Cardiff University, UK. He has published widely on political economy, public policy, and climate politics.

Review :
Hugely important, frequently insightful, wonderfully incisive -- this is a really valuable addition to the literature on climate change in general, and a ground breaking one when it comes to understanding the critically important role that the rapidly industrialising world must play if we are to stand a chance of avoiding dangerous climate change. Professor Andy Gouldson, Director, ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, Swindon, UK As the largest of the industrializing states, Brazil, China, India and Russia will in many ways determine the future of the global environment. This book explores how these major economies understand and frame climate change and the actions they are prepared to take. Using a policy-network approach, it also proposes politically palatable strategies for action. Clearly, this is a must read for students, researchers, and policy practitioners. Miranda A. Schreurs, Director, Environmental Policy Research Centre, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany With their massive and growing ecological footprints, China, India, Russia, and Brazil are crucial players in the politics of climate-change mitigation. This volume, with its extensive case studies and comparative analysis, will help scholars, students, journalists, and activists around the world to understand the political realities in these key countries. Professor Graeme Lang, Department of Asian and International Studies, City University of Hong Kong, China