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Ecologically Unequal Exchange pp 273–305Cite as

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Splintering South: Ecologically Unequal Exchange Theory in a Fragmented Global Climate

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Abstract

The chapter looks at the changing nature of politics in the United Nations climate negotiations around the concept of ecologically unequal exchange, focusing on the lead-up to and aftermath of the 2015 Paris negotiations. We identify and discuss three areas of tension that have emerged within the G-77 coalition: tensions within the global semi-periphery, tensions between the semi-periphery and periphery, and tensions within the periphery. Together, these tensions challenge the main link of solidarity in the G-77 coalition: the idea that all countries in the global South share a common predicament in the global system, with the North solely to blame. Drawing upon this case, we offer three related insights to develop ecologically unequal exchange theory. First, theory and empirical work must better consider the role of the semi-periphery, and divisions within the semi-periphery, in reproducing ecologically unequal societies. Second, theory should account for how fragmentation between the periphery and semi-periphery may produce distinct challenges for peripheral states to resist governance forms which intensify ecologically unequal exchange. Third, theory should better account for the ways in which unequal ecological exchange as mobilized as a collective action frame reflects and diverges from the real-world distribution of environmental goods and bads in the world system.

This work was supported by the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation and the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy. This chapter was originally published under the same title in the Journal of World-Systems Research (www.jwsr.org) vol. 23, no. 1, 2017, pages 372–398, in a special issue of the journal entitled Unequal Ecological Exchange and edited by R. Scott Frey, Paul K. Gellert, and Harry F. Dahms. The authors retained copyright to publish the paper elsewhere under original agreement with the Journal of World-Systems Research.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    We describe the development of the zones of world systems theory (periphery, semi-periphery, and core) below, and acknowledge that sometimes countries move in and out of these categories as they move up and down through the hierarchy of nations. While these are functional groups of nations, we also see these as a continuum from the most powerful and wealthy to the least developed countries. We refer to certain nations in each zone but do not base these categorizations on current empirical data; rather we utilize earlier world-system theory conceptualizations such as that of Terlouw (1993) (see Roberts and Grimes 2002).

  2. 2.

    This participant observation has included working directly with numerous policy NGOs and civil society networks and state delegations, particularly the least developed countries negotiating group. Observational data was collected during network meetings, side events, press conferences, demonstrations, and policy interventions. The analysis is also informed by more than 100 informal interviews and analysis of UNFCCC negotiations and related policy documents.

  3. 3.

    Ranking in per capita emission assessed using 2010 data.

  4. 4.

    India pledged to reduce its emissions intensity per unit of GDP 33 percent to 25 percent from 2005 levels by 2030, to receive about 40 percent of its power from non-fossil sources by 2030, and to enhance afforestation. It also announced a target to develop 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2022, launched a solar power alliance to increase solar production in the developing world, and has implemented a per ton tax on coal that is a direct subsidy to renewables.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA

    David Ciplet

  2. Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    J. Timmons Roberts

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    R. Scott Frey , Paul K. Gellert  & Harry F. Dahms ,  & 

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Ciplet, D., Roberts, J.T. (2019). Splintering South: Ecologically Unequal Exchange Theory in a Fragmented Global Climate. In: Frey, R.S., Gellert, P.K., Dahms, H.F. (eds) Ecologically Unequal Exchange. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89740-0_11

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