The Environment, International Relations, and U.S. Foreign Policy

As the world's largest polluter and its wealthiest country, the US has a potentially enormous impact on international efforts to protect the environment. In this thought-provoking book, an international group of scholars examines how US foreign policy affects and is affected by global environmental change. Covering three broad areas - national security and geopolitics, domestic and international politics, and national interests and international obligations - the contributors examine a host of key issues, including ozone depletion and climate change, biodiversity and whale hunting, environmental and energy security, and international trade. They also raise moral issues associated with the United States' obligations to the rest of humanity. Because the environment has become an ever-more pressing issue at the diplomatic level, this book is aimed at policymakers, activists, and anyone interested in environmental change and international relations.