Global climate change has emerged as one of the world’s most serious problems, one requiring international cooperation. China, as a large country and big emitter, is vital to such cooperation. It...Show moreGlobal climate change has emerged as one of the world’s most serious problems, one requiring international cooperation. China, as a large country and big emitter, is vital to such cooperation. It is therefore important to understand China’s position regarding climate change and international cooperation. This thesis examined China attitudes and how these are changing by conducting discourse analysis of Xinhua articles published during the 2009 and 2015 United Nations climate conferences. It found China’s attitudes shifted significantly between these two conferences and it became much more willing to cooperate.Show less
The thesis argues that Buen Vivir (good living) proves to be a viable new form of environmental governance in Ecuador, which has undergone a significant process of norms socialization and shaped...Show moreThe thesis argues that Buen Vivir (good living) proves to be a viable new form of environmental governance in Ecuador, which has undergone a significant process of norms socialization and shaped environmental governance on a national and global level. The thesis brings together discusses on development, sustainable development and on environmental governance, as well as works that have looked at the topic of Buen Vivir. Methodologically, a constructivist transnational approach has been taken, which enables the view at environmental governance across spatial and institutional borders. Theoretically, it draws on concepts of transnational networks, including epistemic communities and advocacy networks, to explain the transfer of ideas. In addition to these concepts, the theoretical model of norm socialization from Risse and Sikkink is applied. After giving a historical background, which highlights the emergence of indigenous movements during the neoliberal 1980s and 1990s, the second chapter shows how the environmental values of these local movements became embedded in national policy under the concept of Buen Vivir, which can be seen in Ecuador’s constitution from 2008 and its National Development Plan. Chapter 3 is a detailed investigation of the transnational networks involved in the Ecuadorian Yasuni-ITT initiative, which set the start for a norm socialization process of Ecuadorian environmental governance from a national to a global level.Show less
