The EU, the US and Global Climate Governance

This volume presents a critical analysis of transatlantic relations in the field of environmental governance and climate change. The work focuses on understanding the possible trends in the evolution of global environmental governance and the prospects for breaking the current impasse on climate action. Drawing on research involving experts from eleven different universities and institutes, the authors provide innovative analyses on policy measures taken by the EU and the US, the world’s largest economic and commercial blocs, in a number of fields, ranging from general attitudes on environmental leadership with regard to climate change, to energy policies, new technologies for hydrocarbons extraction and carbon capture, as well as the effects of extreme weather events on climate-related political attitudes. The book examines the way in which the current attitudes of the EU and the US with regard to climate change will affect international cooperation and the building of consensus on possible climate policies, and looks to the future for international environmental governance, arguably one of the most pressing concerns of civilisation today. This book, which is based on research carried out in the context of the EU-financed FP7 research project TRANSWORLD, will appeal to academics, policy makers and practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges resulting from climate change.

Christine Bakker is a Research Fellow at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy. She previously worked at the European Commission in the field of development cooperation. Her research interests are in the fields of international criminal law, human rights with a particular focus on children’s rights, and international environmental law. She has published widely in these areas. Francesco Francioni is Professor of international law, Emeritus, and part-time professor at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and at the LUISS University, Rome. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Oxford, Cornell, the Texas Law School, and Columbia Law School. His research priorities are in the field of public international law, especially in the area of environmental law, human rights and cultural heritage. He is general editor of the Italian Yearbook of International Law, a member of the Board of Editors of the European Journal of International Law and a frequent member of Italian delegations to international negotiations and diplomatic conferences. He is a member (ass.) of the Institut de droit international and of the American Law Institute. He has authored and co-edited numerous books, book chapters and refereed articles in his fields of interest.