The Politics of Climate Change 2nd Edition, Kindle Edition
by Anthony Giddens (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 36 ratings
See all formats and editions
Kindle
$20.42
Length: 281 pages Word Wise: Enabled Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
----
"A landmark study in the struggle to contain climate change, the greatest challenge of our era. I urge everyone to read it."
—Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America
Since it first appeared, this book has achieved a classic status. Reprinted many times since its publication, it remains the only work that looks in detail at the political issues posed by global warming. This new edition has been thoroughly updated and provides a state-of-the-art discussion of the most formidable challenge humanity faces this century.
If climate change goes unchecked, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic for human life on earth. Yet for most people and for many policy-makers too, it tends to be a back-of-the-mind issue. We recognize its importance and even its urgency, but for the most part it is swamped by more immediate concerns.
Political action and intervention on local, national and international levels are going to have a decisive effect on whether or not we can limit global warming as well as how we adapt to that already occurring. However, at the moment, argues Giddens, we do not have a systematic politics of climate change. Politics-as-usual won't allow us to deal with the problems we face, while the recipes of the main challenger to orthodox politics, the green movement, are flawed at source. Giddens introduces a range of new concepts and proposals to fill in the gap, and examines in depth the connections between climate change and energy security.
-----
Product description
Review
"Remarkable for its range and scope. Concise, yet comprehensive, it examines the climate problem from a variety of standpoints; historical, scientific, financial and geo-political. Always calm and reasonable in tone, Giddens resists the urge to scapegoat and condemn the most offending countries and industries."
Irish Examiner
"This timely updated reissue of Anthony Giddens' ground breaking book reminds us that the problems he discusses have not gone away."
Diplomat
Acclaim for the first edition:
"One of those rare seminal works that will likely influence policy-makers over the next several generations."
Journal of World Energy Law and Business
"Giddens' is a simple message, argued with great clarity and power, that brings a new dimension to the debate."
Book of the week in the Times Higher Education
"A very useful introduction to the issues, and crucially shifts the focus away from targets and environmentalist frames towards the substance of economic and energy security interests, technology, state intervention and the limitations of the formal international climate negotiations."
Public Policy Research
"As well as providing a useful summary of a number of current debates in climate change policy - from the robustness of carbon markets and green taxes through to the role of government in fostering new technological solutions - Giddens makes a powerful contribution to the emerging debate."
Progress
"The Politics of Climate Change stands out in the crowded terrain of climate change publications by placing politics - rather than science or economics - at the center of the analysis ... there is much to recommend this book. It is up to date, with discussions of the recent global financial crisis and the change of leadership in the US. It takes a multilevel governance perspective on climate change governance and attempts to think about how the various components relate to one another. The book is accessible for the nonspecialist, making it appropriate for use in the classroom."
Environment and Planning C
"How do you create, maintain and renew majorities that encourage people, organisations and institutions to behave responsibly and well, especially when they have become accustomed to behaving irresponsibly and badly? This key question ... underlies everything in Anthony Giddens' important new book, The Politics of Climate Change. Giddens is clear that politicians make things worse by the tactic - much used by Brown in the economic field too - of simultaneously dramatising the threat and then pretending to have the unique measure of it, as the G20 may show."
Martin Kettle, The Guardian
"In challenging the standard criteria used by policy-makers to think about climate change, and by offering an alternative set, Giddens shows how a real national and European debate can finally occupy the political foreground."
Times of Malta
"The prospect of disruptive climate change should be high on the international agenda: it raises issues of politics, economics and equity that are even more complex than the science. This balanced and comprehensive assessment by a distinguished author should be widely read by politicians and policymakers."
Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge
"An incisive and highly original contribution."
Ulrich Beck, University of Munich
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
Review
"Remarkable for its range and scope. Concise, yet comprehensive, it examines the climate problem from a variety of standpoints; historical, scientific, financial and geo-political. Always calm and reasonable in tone, Giddens resists the urge to scapegoat and condemn the most offending countries and industries."
Irish Examiner
"This timely updated reissue of Anthony Giddens' ground breaking book reminds us that the problems he discusses have not gone away."
Diplomat
Acclaim for the first edition:
"One of those rare seminal works that will likely influence policy-makers over the next several generations."
Journal of World Energy Law and Business
"Giddens' is a simple message, argued with great clarity and power, that brings a new dimension to the debate."
Book of the week in the Times Higher Education
"A very useful introduction to the issues, and crucially shifts the focus away from targets and environmentalist frames towards the substance of economic and energy security interests, technology, state intervention and the limitations of the formal international climate negotiations."
Public Policy Research
"As well as providing a useful summary of a number of current debates in climate change policy - from the robustness of carbon markets and green taxes through to the role of government in fostering new technological solutions - Giddens makes a powerful contribution to the emerging debate."
Progress
"The Politics of Climate Change stands out in the crowded terrain of climate change publications by placing politics - rather than science or economics - at the center of the analysis ... there is much to recommend this book. It is up to date, with discussions of the recent global financial crisis and the change of leadership in the US. It takes a multilevel governance perspective on climate change governance and attempts to think about how the various components relate to one another. The book is accessible for the nonspecialist, making it appropriate for use in the classroom."
Environment and Planning C
"How do you create, maintain and renew majorities that encourage people, organisations and institutions to behave responsibly and well, especially when they have become accustomed to behaving irresponsibly and badly? This key question ... underlies everything in Anthony Giddens' important new book, The Politics of Climate Change. Giddens is clear that politicians make things worse by the tactic - much used by Brown in the economic field too - of simultaneously dramatising the threat and then pretending to have the unique measure of it, as the G20 may show."
Martin Kettle, The Guardian
"In challenging the standard criteria used by policy-makers to think about climate change, and by offering an alternative set, Giddens shows how a real national and European debate can finally occupy the political foreground."
Times of Malta
"The prospect of disruptive climate change should be high on the international agenda: it raises issues of politics, economics and equity that are even more complex than the science. This balanced and comprehensive assessment by a distinguished author should be widely read by politicians and policymakers."
Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge
"An incisive and highly original contribution."
Ulrich Beck, University of Munich
From the Publisher
Anthony Giddens is the former director of the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is now a member of the House of Lords. His many books include The Third Way and Europe in the Global Age.
About the Author
Anthony Giddens is the former director of the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is now a member of the House of Lords. His many books include The Third Way and Europe in the Global Age. --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Read less
Product details
ASIN : B00CIRIWIK
Publisher : Polity; 2 edition (22 April 2013)
Language : English
File size : 3605 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 281 pages
Best Sellers Rank: 1,043,952 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
916 in Environmental Policy
1,044 in Public Policy Textbooks
1,099 in Professional Environmental Science
Customer Reviews: 4.1 out of 5 stars 36 ratings
Top reviews from Australia
There are 0 reviews and 0 ratings from Australia
Top reviews from other countries
Atif Iqbal
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2019
Verified Purchase
Anthony Giddens book is fantastic. He presents a lot of credible evidence, to prove that human endured climate change is rapidly threatening the world and our species.
Report abuse
Thomas A. Regelski
4.0 out of 5 stars A little dated
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2018
Verified Purchase
Adds little to what is already known. The writing is stiff and academic. But a reliable source of the information and ideas it covers.
Report abuse
Dr Traeen
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 July 2015
Verified Purchase
Good value for money, quality of paper was excellent.
Report abuse
RobinL
3.0 out of 5 stars and a little counter intuitive to some - nuclear is bad for us
Reviewed in Canada on 12 July 2014
Verified Purchase
Ignoring the fact that it's a bit of a dry read, the primary critique of this book, I have found, is its espousal of the use of nuclear energy as a deterrent to climate change. Although anti-nuclear camps will argue that it is irresponsible of Giddens to suggest nuclear, it is important to keep in mind that he is dealing with the argument not in an attempt to save the planet - which will undoubtedly continue on without us - but in an attempt to ensure the survival of the human race. This seems grandiose in scale, and a little counter intuitive to some - nuclear is bad for us, we say. However, considering the fate of the humankind, to Giddens, is to burn up in global heating, a few patches of radiation is small potatoes. It is important to keep this in mind, whether you are pro or anti nuclear (or even a fence sitter).
Report abuse
Hiranniya Kalesh P
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
Reviewed in India on 29 October 2019
====
The Politics of Climate Change
Want to Read
Rate this book
1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
The Politics of Climate Change
by Anthony Giddens
3.43 · Rating details · 169 ratings · 21 reviews
"A landmark study in the struggle to contain climate change, the greatest challenge of our era. I urge everyone to read it."
Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America Climate change differs from any other problem that, as collective humanity, we face today. If it goes unchecked, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic for human life on earth. Yet for most people, and for many policy-makers too, it tends to be a 'back of the mind' issue. We recognise its importance and even its urgency, but for the most part it is swamped by more immediate concerns. Politicians have woken up to the dangers, but at the moment their responses are mainly on the level of gesture rather than being, as they have to be, both concrete and radical.
Political action and intervention, on local, national and international levels, is going to have a decisive effect on whether or not we can limit global warming, as well as how we adapt to that already occurring. At the moment, however, Anthony Giddens argues controversially, we do not have a systematic politics of climate change. Politics-as-usual won't allow us to deal with the problems we face, while the recipes of the main challenger to orthodox politics, the green movement, are flawed at source. Giddens introduces a range of new concepts and proposals to fill in the gap, and examines in depth the connections between climate change and energy security.
This book is likely to become a classic in the field. It will be of appeal to everyone concerned about how we can cope with what amounts to a crisis for our civilisation. (less)
GET A COPY
KoboOnline Stores ▾Book Links ▾
Paperback, 264 pages
Published May 1st 2009 by Polity Press (first published 2009)
Original TitlePolitics of Climate Change
ISBN074564693X (ISBN13: 9780745646930)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Other Editions (10)
La politica del cambiamento climatico
The Politics of Climate Change
The Politics of Climate Change
A Política da Mudança Climática
İklim Değişikliği Siyaseti
All Editions | Add a New Edition | Combine
...Less DetailEdit Details
EditMY ACTIVITY
Review of ISBN 9780745646930
Rating
1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Shelves to-read edit
( 800th )
Format Paperback edit
Status
March 13, 2021 – Shelved as: to-read
March 13, 2021 – Shelved
Review Write a review
comment
FRIEND REVIEWS
Recommend This Book None of your friends have reviewed this book yet.
READER Q&A
Ask the Goodreads community a question about The Politics of Climate Change
54355902. uy100 cr1,0,100,100
Ask anything about the book
Recent Questions
what is 'climate change' ? ; :)
Like 6 Years Ago Add Your Answer
See 1 question about The Politics of Climate Change…
LISTS WITH THIS BOOK
The Republic by PlatoThe Prince by Niccolò MachiavelliPolitics by AristotleCapital, Vol. 1 by Karl MarxThe Concept of the Political by Carl Schmitt
Politics
427 books — 478 voters
Meditations by Marcus AureliusThe Republic by PlatoThe United States of Elfin by The Silver ElvesPolitics by AristotleThe Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
Theory, Politics, etc
105 books — 12 voters
More lists with this book...
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
Showing 1-30
Average rating3.43 · Rating details · 169 ratings · 21 reviews
Search review text
All Languages
More filters | Sort order
Sejin,
Sejin, start your review of The Politics of Climate Change
Write a review
Displaying 1-30 of 57 reviews rated 4 stars. Clear filters
Giovanni Cappiello
Aug 11, 2017Giovanni Cappiello rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Una panoramica abbastanza completa delle possibili conseguenze delle nostre azioni, condita da interessanti correzioni possibili e già effettuate per migliorare la situazione drammatica in cui ci troviamo.
Lettura fondamentale per prendere coscienza del guaio in cui ci siamo ficcati, ma da cui possiamo, seppur con sforzo immane, ancora salvarci.
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Matthias Moeser
Nov 15, 2020Matthias Moeser rated it really liked it
Helpful and in 2020 still relevant overview of political concepts, interdependencies and constellations concerning climate change. Some parts of it I found less than well structured and with an unclear message.
I enjoyed most reading the last two chapters.
flagLike · comment · see review
Leah
May 23, 2013Leah rated it really liked it · review of another edition
A clear and accessible summary…
In this book, Giddens firstly urges us to accept the overwhelming consensus of opinion amongst scientists that climate change is real and caused by the actions of humanity, and then goes on to consider what actions will be required if we are to overcome this global threat.
Over the first few chapters, Giddens looks at where we are now. He starts by giving an overview of the scientific evidence and discusses the counter-arguments of sceptics and radicals, concluding that the science strongly supports the position that climate change is happening, is caused by human activity and is likely to have catastrophic consequences if action is not taken quickly. He looks at the availability of oil, gas and coal and how their production and use have shaped and changed international relationships and policy since the Second World War. He goes on to discuss the rise of 'green' politics and whether they offer any real solutions to the problems facing us.
In the next few sections, Giddens lays out his stall for the approaches he thinks are required. He argues strongly for a lead to be taken by governments of nation states individually (rather than waiting for the outcome of lengthy international negotiations) to develop policies that will encourage reductions in emissions - particularly through the use of the tax system and the encouragement of technological innovation. He highlights that climate change questions have, to some degree, become seen to be a 'left-wing' concern and points out that it is essential to success that all-party support is given to measures if they are to be accepted by those who will be affected. He urges strongly the principle of 'polluter pays' and suggests this should be extended to look at the developed world's responsibility to ensure support for developing and undeveloped countries in combatting climate change and in adapting to its effects.
Finally, Giddens looks at how international co-operation has developed to date and how he sees it progressing. He suggests that, as well as the various groupings of countries that are coming into being to tackle the issues regionally, the UN still has a vital role to play in monitoring and holding states to internationally agreed targets.
The book is well written and aimed at a general audience. It is a succinct account of where we are now and provides food for thought on how we might progress. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the on-going climate change debate (and, as this book makes clear, it affects us all). I found it a clear and accessible summary of the main arguments.
NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Sep 01, 2018Nicholas Whyte rated it liked it
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3069817.html
This book was published in 2009 and is already very dated. Climate change is a topic that I orbit around a bit at work (more so in my last job) and it’s striking to realise just how much the debate has moved on in the last nine or ten years. Most obviously, carbon markets fell way out of fashion with the 2008 crash, and the big focus now is on renewables (Giddens just missed the German Energiewende). But also the Paris climate accord looks even more remarkable from the 2009 perspective than from the 2018 perspective;
the points of reference of the global debate have completely changed. Another crucial development, which Giddens barely hoped for but is now a fundamental part of the dynamic, is the shift of Chinese policy in favour of environmental issues. This is enough to make the US federal government much less relevant, thought perhaps not much less dangerous (Gidddens spends some time agonising about Bush and post-Bush policies; we did not know we had it so good).
There are good questions to be asked about whether vaguely democratic and vaguely capitalist systems will find the necessary impetus to implement the massive changes that are needed. The scale of the problem is even starker now than it was a decade ago. But I was cheered by reading this book and realising that the debate does move on. I hope it will move fast enough. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Don
May 07, 2019Don rated it liked it
Shelves: 2017, non-fiction, politics, science, 2019
Comprehensive, lucid, insightful but, unfortunately already somewhat overtaken by events. It covers a great deal of ground, both metaphorically and (as its scope is global) literally, moving fluently from theme to theme. If you need a text that shows you both the extreme urgency for action on climate change and the extraordinary difficulty of doing so effectively, here it is.
The weakness of the book is that it pre-dates the increase of populism and the appearance of reactionary, climate-change denying governments, in the USA and Brazil, for example, which compound the difficulties that the human species faces. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Sarah
Feb 18, 2012Sarah rated it liked it
Shelves: politics, climate-change, environment
A good one volume introduction to the debate, the skeptics, the Green movement and possible agendas for change at a nation-state, European and international level. While I do to some extent agree that macro-level policy change is going to be necessary, Giddens' focus on this, to the extent that he excludes any discussion of local government or community initiatives, seems a bit out of touch with the broader politics of climate change. There's plenty going on, and lots of possibilities at a local and regional level, but you'd never know it from reading this text. (less)
flagLike · 3 comments · see review
Jean-François Lisée
Jan 28, 2016Jean-François Lisée rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: environnement
Inventeur de la "troisième voie", Anthony Giddens s'est recyclé dans l'environnement, dont il présente ici tout ce qu'il faut savoir (du moins en 2011, ça change vite) de la science elle même, puis des rapports de force politiques pour arriver -- ou ne pas arriver -- à agir résolument.
Extrêmement utile. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Tod
Feb 19, 2016Tod rated it liked it
Worth reading but take it with a grain of salt. In personal experience it's getting warmer and storms are getting bigger, coffee is more expensive because the crop is failing, I can see warming happening. As to what we can do about it I'm not sure. If everyone does a little, there are so many of us on the planet that that becomes a lot. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
