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Within the past 25 years, climate change has evolved from an issue of interest primarily to some natural scientists into one of the top priorities on the global policy agenda. Research in political science and related fields offers systematic and empirically well-supported explanations for why solving the climate problem has turned out to be more difficult than originally anticipated. After reviewing this research, I focus on four areas in which we know less: (a) institutional design features that may help in mitigating or overcoming fundamental problems in the global cooperative effort; (b) factors that are driving variation in climate policies at national and subnational levels; (c) driving forces of climate policy beyond the state, in particular civil society, the science-policy interface, and public opinion; and (d) sociopolitical consequences of failing to avoid major climatic changes. The article concludes by identifying key questions at the micro, meso, and macro levels that should be addressed by political scientists in the coming years. In view of the fact that governance efforts at the global level are progressing very slowly, greater attention to bottom-up dynamics appears useful, both for analytical reasons (there is lots of variation to be explained) and for normative reasons. Adapted from the source document.

The aim of the modelling exercise is to help gain an understanding of whether increases in differential between VED bands would help the UK achieve its: 1) two targets relating to lower carbon cars 2) commitment to a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2010. This document should be read in conjunction with the SDC submission into the Government's Climate Change Programme Review. ; Publisher PDF

Africans today in rejecting their European rulers do not reject their techniques of production & gov; they assert African control over them. Africa is passing through a process of change from small-scale to large-scale org, econ & pol'al; generalizations are impossible, but throughout Africa south of the Sahara production for exchange was less important than production for subsistence. It has, however, become part of a world system of production for exchange through incorporation in the pol'al systems of European nations. The consequent widening of the scale of soc relationships has had great effects on African society. The growth of towns produces a modern Ur society, & only there have the unifying forces of the modern pol'al & econ systems their effect. In all Africa local solidarity remains strong because so many local groups have until recently been autonomous pol'al units. The gulf between literate & illiterate is deep & there are great difficulties of staffing public services & industry. The whole pol'al system is superimposed on smaller-scale politics. The new rulers may yet afford tolerance of opposition; they must be authoritarian enough to maintain stability & yet not so oppressive as to provoke resistance. IPSA.

Die real existierende Marktwirtschaft unterliegt einem ökonomischen Wachstumszwang, der Umweltpolitik konterkariert. Eine bessere Wirtschaftsordnung, die in erster Linie leistungslose Einkommen verhindern muss, kann ihn überwinden und Ökonomie, Ökologie sowie soziale Gerechtigkeit in Einklang bringen.