Cosmopolitan governance to transboundary air pollution in East Asia

This chapter rationalizes the importance of employing the cosmopolitan theoretical framework with interdisciplinary approaches to examine air pollution and risk governance in four East Asian countries: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China. First, related literatures are reviewed to support our rationale to propose cosmopolitan governance to transboundary air pollution in East Asia. Second, we briefly summarize studies and findings of each chapter in this edited book to explain four objectives of the book: (1) to conceptualize and construct East Asian perspectives on air pollution governance by exploring various cases studies in this region, as well as discussing how the existing fossil fuel-based economy can evolve toward a more sustainable, less carbon-intensive one; (2) to discuss the regional transboundary risk politics; (3) to analyze air pollution policy battles; (4) to understand contested risk constructions of air pollution in this region. Third, it is critical in East Asia to establish a robust epistemic community. Finally, in spite of achieving cosmopolitan, egalitarian, and cooperative governance will be challenging in East Asia, we believe that the new empirical findings offered in the chapters of this book will provide readers with fresh understanding of the complexities of transboundary air pollution in East Asia.