IR Theory: Green Politics Overview

Lecture on IR Theory: Green Politics (Fall 2024-2025)

• Further Readings: The lecture recommends a specific article on climate change adaptation and international relations theory. (https://www.e-ir.info/2016/04/29/climate-change-adaptation-and-international-relations-theory/)

Green Politics: The Roots

• 1990s Shift: International Relations began recognizing the natural environment as a critical and growing issue requiring both theoretical and practical attention.
• Mounting Evidence: Increasing evidence of human impact on the environment drove this recognition.
• World's most polluted countries (by estimated average PM2.5): Data shown in a graph identifies the most polluted countries.

The Basics of Green Theory

• Nature's Interests: Ecological thought prioritizes the interests of nature itself, not only those of humans.
• Tragedy of Environmental Issues: Environmental problems are seen as tragic because the issues are evident ('we can see it coming') but action is difficult or postponed. The inaction is a theoretical challenge as well as a practical one.
• Non-Technical Solutions: Environmental problems can't typically be solved by technical solutions alone.

Green Theory: A Green Morality

• Curtailing Material Development: A green morality suggests human material development might need to be limited to protect non-human nature.
• Prioritizing Nature: This implies putting nature before human concerns.
• Consuming Less: Limiting individual freedoms to consume more than needed, in prioritizing nature.

Ecocentrism vs. Anthropocentrism

• Ecocentrism: Prioritizes healthy ecosystems as prerequisites for human health and well-being.
• Anthropocentrism: Only values the short-term practical use of nature for human benefit.
• Transboundary Issues: Environmental issues frequently cross national borders, thus international cooperation is needed.
• Global Solutions: Global environmental problems necessitate global solutions.

Green Theory: Solutions

• Global Solutions Needed: Global environmental problems require global solutions.
• Questioning National Borders: This raises questions about the practicality of maintaining national borders given the interconnectedness of environmental problems.
• New Frameworks: Consider how to adapt existing human societies to accommodate eco-centrism.

Green Theory & Climate Change

• Dominant Environmental Issue: Climate change is currently the most pressing environmental issue, caused by the reliance on fossil fuels.
• Long-term Ecological Values: Green theory emphasizes long-term ecological values over short-term human interests.
• Technological Solutions Not Sufficient: Addressing climate change issues requires more than just technological solutions.

Continued... What is the solution?

• Injustice and Responsibility: Climate change highlights injustices imposed on current and future generations, and on ecosystems themselves.
• Ecocentric Values: An appropriate response requires solutions and policies based on ecocentric values, instead of solely human instrumental values.

Ecosystem: Future Outlook

• Paris Accord (2015): An international agreement addressing climate change.
• National Interests over shared responsibility: It is difficult to achieve agreement that takes into account both immediate national and longer-term global concerns about climate change.
• Prospects for international cooperation: Though global cooperation is difficult, some prospect exists for leadership from powerful states like China or the EU on environmental issues.