Abstract
Throughout the world, diverse actors are seeking to identify and implement effective, fair and robust strategies for addressing problems posed by environmental change. This chapter seeks to contribute to these efforts by providing a multifaceted framework for analyzing environmental problems. The framework situates environmental problems in the context of four dynamic and interactive forms of disequilibria evident in the international system: between world views; between rich and poor; between institutions and needs; and between social and ecological systems. The chapter further considers environmental change from an historical perspective. It then presents a repertoire of possible social responses, and concludes that one— innovation—is especially promising today. However, the cumulative impact of the various disequilibria in the international system makes it very difficult to cooperate in designing and implementing effective environmental response strategies. Huge inequalities, for example, contribute to environmental problems that need to be addressed while simultaneously predisposing rich and poor to very different solutions. The chapter concludes that environmental problems must be addressed together with social problems.
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Matthew, R.A. (1999). Social Responses to Environmental Change. In: Lonergan, S.C. (eds) Environmental Change, Adaptation, and Security. NATO ASI Series, vol 65. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4219-9_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4219-9_2
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