Abstract
Despite the warnings of, and concern over, the inevitability of climate change, there has been a lack of concerted, enforceable action. Some of the predicted phenomena are already unfolding, but the international reaction remains piecemeal. In this review paper, based on grounded theory methodology, the main factors delaying or stymying an appropriate response are conceptualized: skepticism of science; its politicization and perceived conflict with neoliberalism; well-funded opposition by the fossil fuel interests; disregarding long term damage to pursue immediate gains; dimensions of culture such as individualism and attitudes to nature. This paper also posits that these factors have been exacerbated by nationalism and populism, widening the rifts among and within countries. A multilevel approach to countering these challenges is proposed. National governments need to enact appropriate policies. However, institutions (corporations and activist NGOs), transnational climate change governance, public-private enterprises, and committed individuals are crucial to have an impact on mitigation and adaptation. While the handling of the coronavirus exemplifies the fragmentation and skepticism demonstrated in dealing with climate change, it could serve as a foretaste of the disastrous outcomes of climate inaction.
Highlights
Mounting Evidence of Climate Change 1.1 Present Day Phenomena Scientists have been warning us that average temperatures worldwide will continue their inexorable upward movement unless concerted action is taken to slow human activities contributing to global www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/sssrStudies in Social Science Research2
Meetings of the Conference of Parties (COPs) such as those held at Kyoto, Copenhagen, and Durban failed to reach agreements or resulted in agreements which were not implemented (CFR, 2020)
Nations experiencing early indicators of global warming have shown some urgency in calling for concerted action, but achieving any sort of international order based on common interests appears to have become a monumental task
Summary
Mounting Evidence of Climate Change 1.1 Present Day Phenomena Scientists have been warning us that average temperatures worldwide will continue their inexorable upward movement unless concerted action is taken to slow human activities contributing to global www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/sssr. 8.2 Institutional Though nation states are pivotal to developing effective policies to counter global warming, institutions in diverse fields such as business, finance, pension funds, education, religion, and environmental activism play an influential role both in the formulation and successful implementation of climate strategies. 8.2.1 Corporate Strategies Business firms have been actively engaged in sustainability-driven innovation for over a decade (Schaltegger, Horisch, & Freeman, 2017; Williams, 2015) Such strategies include generating electricity through renewable sources, electric vehicles with more efficient batteries, durable products consuming less energy over their usable life, recycling, refurbishing, and remanufacturing, and supply chain auditing for carbon usage. By virtue of encompassing diverse entities across national borders, TCCG offers a method of overcoming the barriers erected by the forces of nationalism, and the growing tendencies to populist rule (Busby, 2018)
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