Climate obstruction across Europe
Description
Robert BRULLE, Timmons ROBERTS and Miranda SPENCER. Climate obstruction across Europe. New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2024,
xiv, 38p.
Decades of effort to address anthropogenic climate change have failed to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions that are destabilizing Earth's life-support systems. Many theories of why we have failed have been advanced, but one reason has barely been studied: the well-organized efforts to obstruct climate action. Since the 2010s, an expanding body of investigative reporting and academic research has documented an extensive, well-organized enterprise, led by corporations and their affiliated trade associations, to interfere with progress on reducing carbon emissions. Yet, for the most part, these impediments remain marginal to the public discussion on how best to address climate change"-- Provided by publisher. Understanding climate obstruction is foundational to advancing effective action on the global climate crisis. Starting in the late 1980s, a broad range of actors--including corporations and trade associations acting in coordination with conservative think tanks, foundations, and public relations firms--mounted a long-term effort to oppose action to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. This is the first book to document the development and nature of these activities across Europe. Leading teams of experts examine case studies of eleven nations and the European Union. Each team documents the historic development of climate obstruction in the country, the principal organizations involved in these efforts, the strategies and tactics utilized, and the nature of the arguments made to slow or stop climate action. Noting significant differences between countries, the book concludes with ten lessons on climate obstruction across Europe that emerged from the studies. Future research is suggested to aid in better understanding the development of intentional barriers to action on climate change in Europe.
xiv, 38p.
Decades of effort to address anthropogenic climate change have failed to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions that are destabilizing Earth's life-support systems. Many theories of why we have failed have been advanced, but one reason has barely been studied: the well-organized efforts to obstruct climate action. Since the 2010s, an expanding body of investigative reporting and academic research has documented an extensive, well-organized enterprise, led by corporations and their affiliated trade associations, to interfere with progress on reducing carbon emissions. Yet, for the most part, these impediments remain marginal to the public discussion on how best to address climate change"-- Provided by publisher. Understanding climate obstruction is foundational to advancing effective action on the global climate crisis. Starting in the late 1980s, a broad range of actors--including corporations and trade associations acting in coordination with conservative think tanks, foundations, and public relations firms--mounted a long-term effort to oppose action to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. This is the first book to document the development and nature of these activities across Europe. Leading teams of experts examine case studies of eleven nations and the European Union. Each team documents the historic development of climate obstruction in the country, the principal organizations involved in these efforts, the strategies and tactics utilized, and the nature of the arguments made to slow or stop climate action. Noting significant differences between countries, the book concludes with ten lessons on climate obstruction across Europe that emerged from the studies. Future research is suggested to aid in better understanding the development of intentional barriers to action on climate change in Europe.