Addressing the world's major environmental threats – from climate change to species loss and the destruction of ecosystems – is not only an ecological or economic matter. It is also a profoundly political one. States, international organizations, citizens and businesses across the Global North and South have a stake. How do economic and political processes impact environmental progress? And how do we bring about a green transformation that is both economically sound and fair?

Robert Falkner provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the political and economic forces shaping global efforts to green the economy. Drawing on insights from political economy, international relations and environmental and ecological economics, he introduces readers to the key concepts, actors and institutions in environmental politics at the national and international levels. And he shows how transnational economic flows – across energy, trade, investment and finance – and their global governance influence environmental efforts. This balanced yet critical account of current debates provides a pathway to an environmentally sustainable global economy.

Green Political Economy offers an astute introduction to the global green transformation for students of political science, international relations, environmental studies, development studies and political economy.