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Climate change: Comparing "green" and "polluting" nation-states
Lorenzo Posocco1, John R McNeill2
1School of Sociology, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.
Frontiers in Sociology
|March 13, 2023
Summary
Leading green nations like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark excel due to long-term environmentalism and "green nationalism." Top polluters like China, the US, and Russia lag due to lacking these factors, hindering their environmental transition.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science and political science, focusing on national environmental performance and policy.
- Comparative politics and international relations, examining factors influencing national environmental transitions.
Background:
- Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) consistently lead in environmental indicators like the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).
- These nations exhibit advanced recycling, waste management, and public environmental awareness, leading to their designation as "exemplary" green nation-states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the key factors driving the rapid green transition in exemplary nation-states.
- To understand the barriers preventing top polluting countries (China, US, Russia) from achieving similar environmental progress.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical framework integrating theories of nationalism with case studies of green nation-states.
- Comparative analysis of "exemplary" green nation-states against top polluting countries (China, US, Russia).
Main Results:
- The pace of a nation's green transition is influenced by a long-standing tradition of environmentalism.
- "Green nationalism," characterized by sustainability, effective environmental movements, inclusivity, welfare, and national pride in environmental achievements, accelerates progress.
- Top polluting nations often lack one or more of these critical factors, impeding their environmental transition.
Conclusions:
- A combination of historical environmentalism, "green nationalism," robust environmental movements, social welfare, and national pride are crucial for rapid environmental progress.
- Addressing the deficit in these areas is essential for top polluting countries to transition towards greater sustainability.
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