"Understanding Global Environmental Politics develops a new, critical approach to global environmental politics. It argues that the major power structures of world politics are deeply problematic in ecological terms, and that they cannot be easily used to resolve major environmental challenges such as global warming.

Instead of simply advocating the construction of new international institutions to respond to such challenges, therefore, the book argues that the construction of alternative social and political structures is necessary. It develops this argument through an analysis of globalized social practices which generate environmental change. After an examination of policy-making surrounding sea defences, which challenges the notion that political institutions are neutral regarding environmental change, it examines the political dynamics of car culture, and of the meat-centred fast-food industry.

Through such analysis, Understanding Global Environmental Politics provides a distinctive new perspective on the field."--BOOK JACKET.