Green Diplomacy: How Environmental Policy Decisions Are Made

Ken A. Armson, a former executive co-ordinator of the Ontario Ministry
of Natural Resources’ Forest Resources Group, is currently a forestry
consultant.

This very readable book deals with a major global topic from a Canadian
viewpoint. The author, a well-known professor of public policy at
Carleton University, includes five chapters, the first of which is a
brief introduction to environmental-policy issues. Chapter 2 examines
the key issues, the players involved, and the process. Chapter 3 deals
with the dynamics of green diplomacy in the 1980s, Chapter 4 with
consensus and conflict in the 1990s and the “Road to Rio.” Chapter 5
presents the author’s conclusions regarding the policy issues he
believes Canadians must confront. Here Doern examines the key issues and
players involved in the establishment of international environmental
agreements, paying special attention to Canadian domestic interests. As
he notes, “a compelling overall feature of such complex negotiations
is the personal network of trust that has to be fostered within any
Canadian delegation and among other delegations as well.” A daunting
task.