Yesterday in Parliament: British Politicians and Debate over Stratospheric Ozone Depletion,1970–92

Abstract

In this paper British politicians' understanding of, and attitudes towards, an important element of global environmental change are analysed through study of the parliamentary record Hansard, especially questions to ministers. In particular, attention is given to the evolution of debates concerning stratospheric ozone depletion during the period 1970–92, This focus reflects the importance of ozone depiction as an issue per se, but is also consistent with the wider argument that we need to study the development of specific environmental issues if we are to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the greening of politics; a process hitherto frequently considered as a somewhat incoherent whole, The aim is to trace the chronology of concern about stratospheric ozone, to identify the stimuli to interest in the issue, and to analyse the content and limitations of discussion. This last involves examination of interaction between a global environmental issue and the ideologies of the British national party-political system. The value of consideration of national debate about global issues is thus asserted, National and international debate and diplomacy form interacting elements of a ‘two-level game’ through which politics and environmental concerns become engaged. Previous studies which were focused chiefly on the evolution of a new environmental diplomacy at the international level thus tell only part of the story.