Environmental Politics and Policy

In a time of accelerating environmental crises and urgent calls for change, Environmental Politics and Policy offers a timely, accessible, and globally attuned guide to understanding the political forces shaping our planet’s future. Departing from conventional accounts that locate the origins of environmental degradation solely in the Industrial Revolution, McCormick presents a more nuanced exploration of causality and response. The book combines thematic and conceptual chapters with issue-focused analyses, each addressing a specific environmental challenge by tracing its origins, unpacking the political dynamics surrounding its management, and critically evaluating the resulting policy regimes. This edition places particular emphasis on comparative and international perspectives, bridging domestic and global contexts to illuminate the complex interplay between local actions and transnational processes. It incorporates a diversity of viewpoints, including Western and non-Western, Global Southern, Indigenous, institutional, and grassroots perspectives. Expanded coverage of non-state actors and environmental mobilization highlights the role of civil society, advocacy networks, and community-led initiatives in shaping policy and driving systemic change. Ideal for courses in environmental politics, policy studies, and global governance, this edition equips readers with the analytical skills and contextual knowledge necessary to navigate and influence the evolving landscape of environmental decision-making. A brand new companion website provides additional support with slides and testbanks for lecturers, and summaries, flashcards and weblinks for students.