China and great power responsibility for climate change

As American leadership over climate change declines, China has begun to identify itself as a great power by formulating ambitious climate policies. Based on the premise that great powers have unique responsibilities, this book explores how China's rise to great power status transforms notions of great power responsibility in general and international climate politics in particular. The author looks empirically at the Chinese party-state's conceptions of state responsibility, discusses the influence of those notions on China's role in international climate politics, and considers both how China will act out its climate responsibility in the future and the broader implications of these actions. Alongside the argument that the international norm of climate responsibility is an emerging attribute of great power responsibility, Kopra develops a normative framework of great power responsibility to shed new light on the transformations China's rise will yield and the kind of great power China will prove to be. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of international relations, China studies, foreign policy studies, international organizations, international ethics and environmental politics.

As American leadership over climate change declines, China has begun to identify itself as a great power by formulating ambitious climate policies. Based on the premise that great powers have unique responsibilities, this book explores how China's rise to great power status transforms notions of great power responsibility in general and international climate politics in particular. The author looks empirically at the Chinese party-state's conceptions of state responsibility, discusses the influence of those notions on China's role in international climate politics, and considers both how China will act out its climate responsibility in the future and the broader implications of these actions. Alongside the argument that the international norm of climate responsibility is an emerging attribute of great power responsibility, Kopra develops a normative framework of great power responsibility to shed new light on the transformations China's rise will yield and the kind of great power China will prove to be. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of international relations, China studies, foreign policy studies, international organizations, international ethics and environmental politics

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgements -- 1. Introduction -- Necessity of normative inquiry in international relations theory -- Institutional change: an English School approach -- Secondary institutions in international society -- State-centric solidarism and climate responsibility -- Great powers in international society -- Organisation of the book -- Notes -- References -- 2. Responsibility in international society -- Many meanings of responsibility -- Responsibilisation -- Drivers of responsibility -- Climate change and practices of state responsibility -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 3. Practices of state responsibility in China -- Legacy of China's imperial and Maoist eras -- Reforming responsibilities -- National responsibility -- International responsibility -- Humanitarian responsibility -- Environmental responsibility -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 4. China's rise, climate change and great power responsibility -- The great power club -- Pluralism, solidarism and great power climate responsibility -- Practices of great power responsibility -- Expectations of China's responsibility -- China's emerging notions of great power responsibility -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 5. Great power management and debate over climate responsibility -- China and the environmental awakening of international society -- China and the UNFCCC climate negotiations -- China and post-Kyoto climate negotiations -- China and post-Paris climate negotiations -- General climate responsibilities -- Special climate responsibilities -- Great climate power clubs -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 6. The fulfilment of China's climate responsibility -- Drivers of China's climate policy -- China's commitment to mitigate climate change