Is the climate change a threat to democracy? And western democracies a risk factor for the planet sustainability

Abstract

The challenge of climate change has usually been addressed from the point of vue of the natural sciences or the economy, but not in its political dimension. This article addresses climate change as a threat to Western liberal democracies, which, in turn, lack effective tools to cope with it, which also makes them a risk to sustainability. After accounting for the reappearance of eco-authoritative discourses to manage this issue, two experiences of deliberation and citizen participation are cited as dynamic to address a climate crisis that requires the involvement of all political, social and economic actors: climate change focused citizens’ assemblies/juries, and river contracts.