Leigh Glover

This book analyzes climate change from a societal risk perspective, considering IPCC data, harm reduction, and global impact. Climate change is a globalised agent of social disruption whose impacts will worsen societal inequities and inequalities around the world. For some unfortunate societies already precariously exposed, climate change will tip them into societal collapse. Devastation will also occur to many ecological values in which all societies are embedded. But effective social action can limit the extent of these costs and losses. Ultimately, only social transformation can limit the social and environmental harms of climate change. But what does this mean? To what extent is society at risk? Are such risks particularized and restricted to specific segments and localities? Or is society at risk in a more universal way? Climate risks are re-shaping the practices of households, communities, governments and businesses. In this way, climate risks are a dynamic element in social change and social processes. Risk holds a mirror to society, revealing who and what is prioritized, recognized and valued. It also provides a reckoning of our perceived strengths, vulnerabilities and weaknesses. This volume examines how we understand the societal risks of contemporary and forecast climate change impacts—and those risks inherent in dealing with these impacts. We know that society is fashioning a new global climate—but climate change is also re-fashioning society; this book explores this dynamic process and considers its implications for future society.

This book analyzes climate change from a societal risk perspective, considering IPCC data, harm reduction, and global impact. Climate change is a globalised agent of social disruption whose impacts will worsen societal inequities and inequalities around the world. For some unfortunate societies already precariously exposed, climate change will tip them into societal collapse. Devastation will also occur to many ecological values in which all societies are embedded. But effective social action can limit the extent of these costs and losses. Ultimately, only social transformation can limit the social and environmental harms of climate change. But what does this mean? To what extent is society at risk? Are such risks particularized and restricted to specific segments and localities? Or is society at risk in a more universal way? Climate risks are re-shaping the practices of households, communities, governments and businesses. In this way, climate risks are a dynamic element in social change and social processes. Risk holds a mirror to society, revealing who and what is prioritized, recognized and valued. It also provides a reckoning of our perceived strengths, vulnerabilities and weaknesses. This volume examines how we understand the societal risks of contemporary and forecast climate change impacts—and those risks inherent in dealing with these impacts. We know that society is fashioning a new global climate—but climate change is also re-fashioning society; this book explores this dynamic process and considers its implications for future society.

This book examines the political themes and policy perspectives related to, and influencing, climate change adaptation. It provides an informed primer on the politics of adaptation, a topic largely overlooked in the current scholarship and literature, and addresses questions such as why these politics are so important, what they mean, and what their implications are. The book also reviews various political texts on adaptation.

This book examines the political themes and policy perspectives related to, and influencing, climate change adaptation. It provides an informed primer on the politics of adaptation, a topic largely overlooked in the current scholarship and literature, and addresses questions such as why these politics are so important, what they mean, and what their implications are. The book also reviews various political texts on adaptation.

City and state governments around the world are struggling to achieve environmentally sustainable transport. Economic, technological, city and transport planning and human behaviour solutions are often hampered by ineffective implementation. So attention is now turning to institutional, governmental and political barriers. Approaches to these implementation problems assume that transport ownership can only be public (owned by state entities) or private (corporate or personal). Another option – largely unexplored to date – is communal ownership of transport. Community-Owned Transport proposes and develops the notion that communal ownership has a historical basis and provides unique opportunities for providing personal mobility. It looks at the historical roots of modern urban transport’s failings as those of technological change and the associated governing of transport systems, particularly the role of public sector institutions. Community ownership is explored through the new ‘sharing economy’ developments – car sharing, ridesharing and bicycle share schemes – and older social innovations in ecovillages and communal living. Models and practices of community ownership of transport are provided and this study also discusses how community ownership might contribute to sustainable transport. Drawing widely on different disciplines and fields of scholarship, this book explores the conceptual and practical aspects of communal ownership of transport. It will be a valuable resource for those seeking innovative approaches to addressing the pressing problems of transport, including graduate and postgraduate students, as well as policymakers, practitioners and community groups.

City and state governments around the world are struggling to achieve environmentally sustainable transport. Economic, technological, city and transport planning and human behaviour solutions are often hampered by ineffective implementation. So attention is now turning to institutional, governmental and political barriers. Approaches to these implementation problems assume that transport ownership can only be public (owned by state entities) or private (corporate or personal). Another option – largely unexplored to date – is communal ownership of transport. Community-Owned Transport proposes and develops the notion that communal ownership has a historical basis and provides unique opportunities for providing personal mobility. It looks at the historical roots of modern urban transport’s failings as those of technological change and the associated governing of transport systems, particularly the role of public sector institutions. Community ownership is explored through the new ‘sharing economy’ developments – car sharing, ridesharing and bicycle share schemes – and older social innovations in ecovillages and communal living. Models and practices of community ownership of transport are provided and this study also discusses how community ownership might contribute to sustainable transport. Drawing widely on different disciplines and fields of scholarship, this book explores the conceptual and practical aspects of communal ownership of transport. It will be a valuable resource for those seeking innovative approaches to addressing the pressing problems of transport, including graduate and postgraduate students, as well as policymakers, practitioners and community groups.

A much-needed analysis of international climate change politics as a key issue of modernity and in the context of environmentalism. Leigh Glover presents a new way to understand the climate change problem and is concerned with problems of modernity and postmodernity in the context of contemporary environmental thought. Focusing on the international politics surrounding the UN agreement of climate change, the Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, Glover examines the issue using the key aspects of climate change science, global environmental politics, and global environmental management.

A much-needed analysis of international climate change politics as a key issue of modernity and in the context of environmentalism. Leigh Glover presents a new way to understand the climate change problem and is concerned with problems of modernity and postmodernity in the context of contemporary environmental thought. Focusing on the international politics surrounding the UN agreement of climate change, the Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, Glover examines the issue using the key aspects of climate change science, global environmental politics, and global environmental management.