| dc.description.abstract | This study focused on the way economically dominant states cooperate in international climate change negotiations, focusing on the role of domestic politics. Specifically, the idea that environmental condition, through heighted public concern, has an effect on the way a government cooperates with climate change agreements. To study this, a media analysis was performed to focus on the way China and the United States cooperated in the context of the 2009 Copenhagen Summit. The hypothesis was supported in 2009 showing that environmental condition plays a significant role in defining public opinion to climate change. This, in turn, influences a government's willingness to cooperate. Most importantly, this study uncovered the key fact that cooperation is context dependent when it comes to international climate change action. While cooperation in the context of a conference is relevant, the most important factor is how a state is cooperating with international climate change agreements in practice. | |
