全球环境治理“领导者”的蜕变:加拿大的案例

加拿大长期以来曾是西方发达国家中积极领导全球环境治理的典范,一度也是全球气候治理的积极参与者,但是近年来却俨然蜕变为气候谈判中的"拖后腿者"。发生这种转变的原因究竟是什么?本文通过国际和国内、政治与经济多个层面的分析发现,除了美国因素以外,加拿大国内的经济形势变化和政治体制是导致其战略变化的主要原因。20世纪90年代以来,油砂大规模开发和原油出口(特别是对美国的市场依赖),导致加拿大在气候变化问题上处于比较劣势;而相关利益集团的游说,正好与加拿大松散的联邦制等制度因素相结合,导致了加拿大气候政策的转向。从这个层面上看,经济利益的变化和政治决策制度特征共同成为决定国家气候或环境战略的主要因素。在某种程度上,这一案例也反驳了发达民主国家因其制度因素必然成为全球环境保护积极支持者的命题。

The Transformation of the "Leader" in Global Environmental Governance:The Case of Canada

Canada was long a model for leadership in global environmental governance among developed Western states.While it has traditionally participated enthusiastically in global climate governance,in recent years it has started lagging behind in climate talks.What exactly is the reason for this change? Through a multi-layered analysis that considers domestic and international and economics and politics,this article finds that in addition to the influence of the United States,changes in the domestic economic situation and political institutions in Canada are the main reasons for its shift in strategy.Since the 1990s,the heavy development of oil sands and crude oil exports (and especially reliance on the American market) has caused a deterioration of Canada’s position with respect to climate talks,while lobbying by related interest groups in Canada’s decentralized federal system has resulted in a shift in Canadian policy on climate change.In sum,the interaction between evolving economic interests and Canada’s unique policy institutions have determined Canada’s strategy with respect to climate and the environment.To a certain extent,this case also refutes the argument that developed democracies are destined to become staunch supporters of global environmental governance because of their political institutions.