Climate Change Policy

Abstract

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity in the twenty‐first century and has become the subject of intensive political and policy attention. A range of debates and contributions made by geographical research to understanding and shaping climate change policy is examined. The examination begins with a discussion of debates on the definitions, geographical properties, and goals of mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damages policies. An investigation into developments in climate change policy at the international, national, and local levels over the past 30 years follows, with an exploration into the concept of transnational climate governance and the emergence of multiactor and polycentric approaches to climate policy. A discussion on the role of carbon markets in climate change policy follows, examining their practical performance and conceptual debates on the use of market‐based approaches to promote effective and equitable mitigation of, and adaptation to the effects of, climate change. Finally, avenues for future research by geographers and other social scientists are identified, where particular emphasis is placed on the implications of the climate justice and climate emergency agendas for climate change policy.