This book addresses the global need to transition to a low-carbon society and economy by 2050. The authors interrogate the dominant frames used for understanding this challenge and the predominant policy approaches for achieving it. Highlighting the techno-optimism that informs our current understanding and policy options, Kirby and O'Mahony draw on the lessons of international development to situate the transition within a political economy framework. Assisted by thinking on future scenarios, they critically examine the range of pathways being implemented by both developed and developing countries, identifying the prevailing forms of climate capitalism led by technology. Based on evidence that this is inadequate to achieve a low-carbon and sustainable society, the authors identify an alternative approach. This advance emerges from community initiatives, discussions on postcapitalism and debates about wellbeing and degrowth. The re-positioning of society and environment at thecore of development can be labelled ecosocialism a concept which must be tempered against the conditions created by Trumpism and Brexit.

Analyzes how we can transition to a low-carbon society Demonstrates that development pathways exist that do not mirror the carbon intensive trajectories of the global North Exposes the political-economic systems that favour the status quo

Autorentext

Peadar Kirby is Professor Emeritus of International Politics and Public Policy at the University of Limerick, Ireland. He has published widely on models of development, and on political economy. His latest book is Transitioning to a Post-Carbon Society: Degrowth, Austerity and Wellbeing, co-edited with Ernest Garcia and Mercedes Martinez-Iglesias (2017).

Tadhg O'Mahony is Marie Skodowska-Curie Fellow in wellbeing and sustainability at the Finland Futures Research Centre at the University of Turku, Finland. He has published on a range of topics relating to climate change policy, sustainability, energy, wellbeing and future scenarios.

Inhalt
Section I: Climate change as problem.- Chapter 1: Defining the problem: The complex dimensions of the grave new threats we face.- Chapter 2: Framing the problem: How the climate change message is constructed.- Chapter 3: Addressing the problem: Understanding low-carbon transition with the social sciences.- Section II: Development pathways and the low-carbon future.- Chapter 4: Development models: Lessons from international development.- Chapter 5: Planning future pathways: Implications and outcomes of scenario studies.- Section III: Pathways in developed and developing countries.- Chapter 6: Development and sustainability in the wealthiest regions: Taking the high road?.- Chapter 7: Development and sustainability in the global South: Different routes to transition and a sustainable society.- Section IV: Pathways to a low-carbon future.- Chapter 8: Climate capitalism: How far can it get us?.- Chapter 9: Identifying an emerging paradigm: Towards ecosocialism?.- Chapter 10: Options and prospects for a global low-carbon transition.