Challenges to Traditional International Relations Theory Posed by Environmental Change

International relations theory has given limited attention to the environment, a topic with broad implications for the study and practice of international relations. The influence of environmental concern on international relations theory may be understood at several levels, from philosophical underpinnings to practical demands for explanation. The sorts of influence that may be identified include ontology (accounts of what exists), epistemology (claims to knowledge), concepts (organizing categories), and methods (conduct of research), all of these being related to varying perspectives on international relations.