A New Perspective on Combating Global Climate Change

This paper presents problems with current methods of coping with climate change and reviews Elinor Ostrom’s polycentric approach to theories of collective action on this issue. Past decades have witnessed the shortcomings of global efforts to combat climate change, such as conflicts between developed and developing nations. Efforts have been analyzed using conventional theories of collective action, wherein rational choice theory predicts that individuals will not collaborate without external authority. However, as a large number of empirical cases do not support this prediction, Elinor Ostrom proposes a polycentric approach that takes into account actions at various levels, with active oversight of local, regional, and national stakeholders. The approach recognizes efforts to reduce individual emissions and to have responsibility taken in small- to medium-scale governance units linked by information networks and monitoring at all levels. Coordination and oversight at these levels takes advantage of a much broader and potentially more resilient network in the fight against climate change.