Includes bibliographical references (pages 341-394) and index.

Chronology -- The emergence of global environmental politics -- Actors in the environmental arena -- The development of environmental regimes : chemicals, wastes and climate change -- The development of environmental regimes : natural resources, species and habitats -- Effective environmental regimes : obstacles and opportunities -- Environmental politics and sustainable development -- The future of global environmental politics. Although discussions about the global environment are now a daily occurrence--from companies touting energy-saving products to politicians debating how to best address environmental concerns--it remains a topic plagued by misinformation and ideologically skewed arguments. For more than twenty years, Global Environmental Politics has provided an up to date, accurate, and unbiased introduction to the world's most pressing environmental issues, and this new edition continues the tradition.