Global Energy Governance in a Multipolar World: (Global Environmental Governance)

Multipolar governance permits a number of important states to have significantly more economic and political clout than others, but among them there is hardly any hierarchy. The new energy challenge, with its intricate socio-economic, ecological and international-political considerations, is a multi-dimensional, multi-level and multi-actor issue that requires a minimum of 'central' political steering, because neither the invisible hand of the market, nor unilateral or bilateral power politics are capable to bring about sustainable solutions. Global Energy Governance in a Multipolar World investigates the relationship between the emergence of a multipolar world order and the enormous challenges of global energy governance that the world is facing in the 21st century. It reflects on fundamental questions such as how the main consuming countries can avoid conflict over scarce resources, how they will cooperate to bring about open energy markets, energy conservation and efficiency, and how they can promote renewable energy sources.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction; Part I Global Energy Governance Today: The global energy challenge; Blueprint for a global sustainable energy regime; The institutional landscape of global energy governance. Part II Bringing in Multipolarity: Major power concerts and global energy governance; The players in the multipolar energy game; The G8's track record in global energy governance. Part III Conclusions: G8 leadership in global energy governance: an evaluation; Prospects for energy cooperation in a multipolar world; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
Dries Lesage, Professor, Department of Political Science, Ghent University, Belgium, Thijs Van de Graaf, Ph.D. fellowship of the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), Department of Political Science, Ghent University, Belgium and Kirsten Westphal, Ph.D., Senior Associate, Global Issues Division, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Berlin, Germany

Review :
'This important book addresses a crucial issue that has been ignored for far too long - how to establish and implement international rules that facilitate energy security on a sustainable basis for all. It combines a thorough analysis of the world's key energy governance institutions, the interests of key countries, and the past and potential roles for concerts of major powers such as the G8 with thought-provoking recommendations that deserve serious consideration by policy-makers around the world.' Ann Florini, National University of Singapore, Singapore and The Brookings Institution, USA '... a truly path breaking book on a subject of vital importance that shows a deep understanding of the increasingly multi-polar and interdependent world in which we live. Energy issues cannot be compartmentalized from other global issues and the authors grasp the reality that the world needs a "political steering committee". They are right.' Gordon Smith, University of Victoria and former Deputy Foreign Minister of Canada '... Lesage, van de Graaf and Westphal provide a timely state-of-the-art assessment of energy issues and make a convincing case for undertaking further action in the form of better structured global energy governance. They advance a very important debate on how energy is to be governed and pave the way for much needed further research in this area. Their work will be of particular interest to international relations and political science scholars, and it is of absolute value to those seeking to understand how to deal with the pressing global energy issues of our time.' Review of European Community and Environmental Law 'The book successfully combines economic and historical analyses... [it] is very well written. It represents a valuable theoretical advancement in the literature on energy governance, and it is likely to open the way to further studies. It is therefore highly recommended for all scholars interested in energy geopolitics and international organisations.' Political Studies Review 'Global Energy Governance in a Multipolar World arguably represents the most accomplished overview to date and the book succeeds in complementing considerable factual knowledge with a cogent argument about the value of major power concerts in global energy governance... an excellent starting point for both researchers and policymakers interested in global energy governance. And its conclusion is as sober as it is realistic.' Environmental Politics 'This is an interesting book. It defines global energy governance as an emerging and recent, but most importantly urgent, aspect of multipolar governance. The authors diagnose the current situation of institutions as fragmented and insufficiently capable to address the current defeats of the unavoidable energy transition... The book is well documented, offers a wealth of references and is most accessible, also for non-experts of international environmental policy... Clearly, this is a book for policy makers on climate changes and energy. But it is also a nice example of research in this area of policy sciences in relation to the environment. Therefore it is warmly recommended to an academic audience of teachers, researchers and master degree students on interdisciplinary environmental issues.' International Journal of Environment and Pollution