The Politics of Climate Change

The weight, prominence and objectivity of scientific opinion about the dangers posed by climate change have been a vital and pressing clarion call for low-carbon transition. Yet, finding the requisite solutions to decrease our production of dangerous greenhouse gases poses a huge technological challenge. Moreover, low-carbon transition necessitates the formulation of new sophisticated economic responses to ensure sustainable emission reduction programmes. However, to achieve the necessary reduction in emissions not only requires an integrated approach to this challenge, but also the construction of a new, innovative and radical consensus on how to deliver the policy solutions for a low-carbon economy.
“The Politics of Climate Change” seeks to provide forums for this process by drawing upon Policy Network’s strength as a “network” to bring together expert academics, business leaders, senior politicians and policymakers from across Europe and beyond for the purpose of debating comparative experiences to this common challenge.

The project seeks to

• Facilitate a cross-party, cross-country and inter-disciplinary approach to climate change in order to build a secure and integrated political consensus for action.
• Move the climate change debate beyond questions pertaining to the detailed design of international emissions reduction agreements in order to focus analysis on national action in advanced economies.
• Facilitate profound changes in politics and public policy in order to secure the necessary technological breakthroughs and more rational economic frameworks to tackle climate change.
• Ensure that a low-carbon economy helps to promote, not hinder socially justice.
• Lace low-carbon transition with a positive narrative of social, economic and political progress.