Paul G. Harris 
What’s Wrong with Climate Politics and How to Fix It 

Governments have failed to stem global emissions of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases causing climate change. Indeed,
climate-changing pollution is increasing globally, and will do so
for decades to come without far more aggressive action. What
explains this failure to effectively tackle one of the world’s most
serious problems? And what can we do about it?

To answer these questions, Paul G. Harris looks at climate politics
as a doctor might look at a very sick patient. He performs urgent
diagnoses and prescribes vital treatments to revive our ailing
planet before it’s too late.

The book begins by diagnosing what’s most wrong with climate
politics, including the anachronistic international system, which
encourages nations to fight for their narrowly perceived interests
and makes major cuts in greenhouse pollution extraordinarily
difficult; the deadlock between the United States and China, which
together produce over one-third of global greenhouse gas pollution
but do little more than demand that the other act first; and
affluent lifestyles and overconsumption, which are spreading
rapidly from industrialized nations to the developing world.

The book then prescribes several ‘remedies’ for the failed politics
of climate change, including a new kind of climate diplomacy with
people at its center, national policies that put the common but
differentiated responsibilities of individuals alongside those of
nations, and a campaign for simultaneously enhancing human
wellbeing and environmental sustainability. While these treatments
are aspirational, they are not intended to be utopian. As Harris
shows, they are genuine, workable solutions to what ails the
politics of climate change today.

Table of Content

About the Author vi

Preface vii

1 Introduction 1

Part I: Diagnoses

2 Cancer of Westphalia: Climate Diplomacy and the International System 33

3 Malignancy of the Great Polluters: The United States and China 64

4 Addictions of Modernity: Affl uence and Consumption 93

Part II: Treatments

5 People-Centered Diplomacy: Human Rights and Globalized Justice 119

6 Differentiated Responsibility: National and Individual 144

7 Consumption of Happiness: Sustainability and Wellbeing 171

8 Conclusion 197

Notes 224

References 245

Index 277

About the author

Paul G. Harris is Chair Professor of global and environmental studies at the Hong Kong Institute of Education.