Global environmental politics (GEP) has evolved
significantly over the past three decades, emerging as a distinct
interdisciplinary field that transcends traditional frameworks in international
relations. This paper traces the development of GEP from its state-centric
origins in the 1970s and 1980s, through its institutionalisation at the 1992
Rio Earth Summit, to its contemporary focus on justice, equity, and plural
governance. The paper highlights key innovations, including the integration of
Earth system science, critiques of neoliberal environmentalism, and the
centrality of climate change research, while noting persistent challenges such
as North-South inequities and the marginalisation of non-climate issues. The
field’s expansion to incorporate non-state actors, Indigenous knowledge, and
critical methodologies reflects its maturation into a transformative domain
addressing Anthropocene challenges. However, tensions remain between
incremental reform and systemic change, as well as between academic rigour and
policy relevance. This analysis underscores GEP’s vital role in reimagining
global governance for an era of ecological crisis.