Failure To Act: The Political Battle Over Climate Change and the Prospects for Effective Global Policy

Abstract

In a time of unprecedented environmental damage, two very distinct and opposing policy agendas have emerged in the EU and us. The fragmented and disconnected nature of international climate change policy stems from the myriad political, social, philosophical, and economic issues that exist and, at times, conflict, on a local, national, and international level. Using a rigorous policy model, this analysis seeks to illuminate the roadblocks that have severely undermined climate change policy efforts in the us, analyze the legislative successes and implementation failures in EU, and discuss the prospects for global climate change policy in the future.