Passing the Buck until Green Horizon: The Devil of Democratic Decarbonization

• In Event: Democracy and Climate Stressors

Abstract

How does the political regime work out in achieving carbon reduction? The debate and the method of global climate governance have been discussed over decades. However, some of the democratic and non-democratic countries have not only suffered in the environmental crisis but are also way behind the goal of carbon reduction, while others win the reputation of the energy transition but pass on the crisis to other countries. Based on the mixed-methods approach, this paper argues that the efficiency of decarbonization and processing the goal of net-zero has not mitigated the impact but has increased the potential environmental crisis in the path of the global energy transition. Additionally, the self-interest of technological powers has constrained the autonomy of policymaking in certain countries. As long as the concept of just transition cannot be implemented in the domestic policy, the more challenging those democratic countries should face in climate change. This paper not only highlights the correlation between the international relations field and cross-national environmental politics but also points out the threat in the global energy transition.

Author

• Hsun Chang, National Chengchi University