Dear GEP Colleagues, I am trying to rethink global environmental governance, and to encourage my students to do likewise, especially in the context of climate change. While I know that some of you won't agree, it's my feeling the practice of global environmental governance surrounding climate change has been a failure. This is not to discount positive developments and steps forward, but is (by my estimation) a fact revealed by warnings of natural scientists and apparently by ongoing environmental changes. Thanks to hard work by many governments and nongovernmental actors, etc., things won't be as bad as they might have been. But I think they'll be very bad nevertheless, especially for the world's poor.
Assuming I am correct (even if you don't agree), do you have ideas for how we might rethink global governance and climate change, or conceive of global governance in this context in very new ways? What are you saying to your students in this regard? What do you say when they ask for alternatives to the incrementalism of climate change diplomacy? Are their practical alternatives, or desirable ones that may appear to be impractical today? Many thanks for your ideas. All best, Paul -- P.G. Harris Department of Social Sciences Hong Kong Institute of Education 10 Lo Ping Road Tai Po, HONG KONG General Office Tel.: +852 2948 7707 Direct Tel.: +852 2948 6763 Fax: +852 2948 8047 Email: pharris @ ied.edu.hk http://www.ied.edu.hk/ssc/en/index.htm
