Abstract
Scientists warn that human activity in the Anthropocene is causing the transgression of several planetary boundaries. The population/environment/development equation has become insoluble. This paper reviews the trajectory of climate change and discusses the shortcomings of ongoing efforts to address it. It analyzes the current crisis in global governance, fostered by widespread disenchantment with globalization, and reflects on the risks that the resulting political imbroglio presents for our environmental future. Global responses are ineffective due to crumbling multilaterism and the continuing promotion of unsustainable economic growth based on consumerism. Discontent with the consequences of globalization has destabilized national governance and, in the process, further corroded prospects for effective global governance in facing symbiotic social, political and environmental crises. Frustration with globalization is providing media populists a platform from which to attract voters with naive schemes that highlight climate change denial. Potential pathways and obstacles for multilateralism in efforts to resolve the current crisis are blurred. Blind faith in technology, negationism, and the pervasiveness of the consumer culture further hamper awareness raising. Unfortunately, voters, institutions and policies may only adjust when the intensification of climate disasters forces a sea change in outlook.
Highlights
The 1990s presaged a bright new phase in global governance, with the fall of the Berlin Wall serving as backdrop for the dawn of a new global order
The paper reviews the trajectory of climate change and the limitations of ongoing efforts to deal with it, discusses the environmental risks stemming from global governance disruptions plus disenchantment with globalization and, considers potential pathways and obstacles to the resolution of the current quandary
What is being done to stop this fast train to ecological disaster? Essentially – very little! The discrepancy between scientific knowledge and human action on environmental issues is most notorious on the subject of climate change, but is prevalent in all major environmental threats, due to two main and interconnected reasons
Summary
Scientists warn that human activity in the Anthropocene is causing the transgression of several planetary boundaries. This paper reviews the trajectory of climate change and discusses the shortcomings of ongoing efforts to address it. It analyzes the current crisis in global governance, fostered by widespread disenchantment with globalization, and reflects on the risks that the resulting political imbroglio presents for our environmental future. Global responses are ineffective due to crumbling multilaterism and the continuing promotion of unsustainable economic growth based on consumerism. Frustration with globalization is providing media populists a platform from which to attract voters with naive schemes that highlight climate change denial. Potential pathways and obstacles for multilateralism in efforts to resolve the current crisis are blurred. Voters, institutions and policies may only adjust when the intensification of climate disasters forces a sea change in outlook.
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