Fixing the Climate: Strategies for an Uncertain World

The global climate crisis is not being solved through top-down global treaties or grand bargains among nations. Charles Sabel and David Victor argue that the profound transformations needed for deep cuts in emissions must arise locally, with government and business working together to experiment with new technologies, quickly learn the best solutions, and spread that information globally. They suggest that the Paris Agreement is an umbrella under which local experimentation can push the technological frontier and help societies around the world learn how to deploy the technologies and policies needed to tackle the problem.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 02 August 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The global climate crisis is a pressing issue that requires urgent action. Despite decades of international negotiations, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, the climate crisis has only worsened. The traditional approach of top-down global treaties and grand bargains among nations has not yielded the desired results. In their book, Charles Sabel and David Victor argue that the profound transformations needed for deep cuts in emissions must arise locally. They suggest that government and business should work together to experiment with new technologies, quickly learn the best solutions, and spread that information globally.

Sabel and Victor provide examples of successful environmental policies that were achieved through an experimentalist approach. The Montreal Protocol on the ozone layer, the rise of electric vehicles, and Europes success in controlling water pollution are all examples of local experimentation that led to significant environmental improvements. They argue that the Paris Agreement is an umbrella under which local experimentation can push the technological frontier and help societies around the world learn how to deploy the technologies and policies needed to tackle the climate crisis.

Fixing the Climate is a visionary book that offers a road map to institutional design that can lead to self-sustaining reductions in emissions. The book challenges the traditional approach to climate policy and suggests that a more decentralized and experimental approach is necessary to achieve meaningful progress. It emphasizes the importance of local partnerships, experimentation, and learning by doing.

In conclusion, the global climate crisis requires a new approach. By working locally and experimenting with new technologies, governments and businesses can learn the best solutions and spread that information globally. Fixing the Climate provides a road map to institutional design that can lead to self-sustaining reductions in emissions and help mitigate the impacts of climate change. It is a must-read for anyone interested in addressing this critical issue.

Weight: 556g
Dimension: 164 x 261 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691224558