3a- climate change debates are shaped by a variety of agendas

Question 1

what is the historical background of the global warming debate (1956)

Answer 1

Gilbert Plass perused climate research and analysed how CO2 traps heat- announces climate change could be a big problem for future generations

Question 2

what is the historical background of the global warming debate (1960)

Answer 2

CO2 level measurements started being taken to establish baseline levels which can be used comparatively

Question 3

what is the historical background of the global warming debate (1982)

Answer 3

deep cores of ice started being analysed to work out CO2 levels in the past- change over time

Question 4

what is the historical background of the global warming debate (1988)

Answer 4

UN established the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) to review relevant research

Question 5

what is the historical background of the global warming debate (1997)

Answer 5

Kyoto protocol is negotiated to reduce GHG emissions 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2012 in developed countries

Question 6

what is the historical background of the global warming debate (2005)

Answer 6

kyoto protocol gained legal force and was ratified by more than 140 countries

Question 7

what was the long running debate in the 1970s

Answer 7

between scientists who argued that global warming was a reality and those who favoured global cooling and an imminent new glacial period. As satellite imaging and computer modelling advanced, the argument swung in favour of global warming.

Question 8

how has the debate changed in the past 2 decades

Answer 8

scientific consensus has emerged: 97% of climate scientists support the view that global warming is taking place. Yet while there is little doubt that the planet’s climate has warmed, there is still debate about its causes.

Question 9

how has the potential impacts of CC shaped the debate

Answer 9

sufficiently alarming to convince even the most sceptical politicians to take action. For example, once global temperatures increase above the 2°C threshold, it is widely held that abrupt and irreversible climate change will begin to occur.

Question 10

role of US government in the climate debate

Answer 10

is a large emitter of CO2 due to fossil fuels, water pollution by runoff of pesticides, deforestation, mining, and desertification. One of the major global powers and one of the 5 permanent members of the UN security council so have a lot of global influence as can veto any UN action.

View on climate change varies due to what party is in power. Democratic govs have committed to international agreements and recognised that CC is accelerated by human factors whereas Republican govs have taken a more sceptical view on climate change believing that human factors play a lesser role or no role at all-

for example, Obama signed the Paris climate accord as an executive agreement but Trump withdrew in 2017 and Biden re-entered on his first day in office in 2021

Question 11

role of international organisations in the climate debate (UN)

Answer 11

produce data and reports that are recognised and accepted so can have a big impact on shaping ideas about climate change. Can advise and enforce policies to create global change- large-scale global impacts, influential and well-recognised groups so views are widely accepted.

The UNFCCC led to Kyoto protocol in 1997 which was the first legally binding agreement to limit GHG emission (192 countries agreed but large CO2 emitters didnt ratify the treaty like US)

International climate change conferences under the protection of the UN take place every year. aim to achieve legally binding agreement to combat climate change. To reduce GHG emissions and limit global temperature increases to no more than 2°C above the pre-industrial average. the conferences held between 2009 and 2014 failed to reach agreement- global carbon emissions have continued to rise.

Question 12

role of international organisations in the climate debate (IPCC)

Answer 12

set up by the UN and submits annual reports on climate change. Uses knowledge from lots of countries and publishes unanimous findings.

Significant because its widely recognised and they do extensive research providing evidence and solutions

Question 13

AO2 of role of gov and international organisations

Answer 13

large scale, long term, allows science to come to light which led to a general consensus about climate change

Not all agreements are sucessful, takes a long time for everyone to agree, influence AC more

Question 14

role of the media in shaping the public image of climate change.

Answer 14

shape public perception and opinion- reporting may be slanted by political leanings of media organizations e.g the guardian and the bbc have a whole section for climate change on their websites but The Times are less likely to report on climate change and when they do are likely to have sceptical opinions on climate change

Media accused of false balance where the number of people in a debate doesn’t reflect the proportion of the people who have the beliefs like when there are 1v1 debates about climate change rather than a proportional representation of the beliefs- if science isnt balanced why are debates. Makes climate change look more controversial than it is

Question 15

what is the medias agenda

Answer 15

sensationalism (stories are told in a way to provoke public excitement or interest at the expense of accuracy) can create right and left-wing propaganda. Left wing provides more content about issues like climate change where as right wing are less likely to provide accurate info on these issues.
Some media will be run by TNCs so will provide a biased opinion based on industrial viewpoints

Question 16

significance of the media in the climate debate

Answer 16

as most people have access to technology has a large scale impact so lots of info thrown at them so they are able to make their own informed decision

Between countries there is a difference in representation in media- Since 2004 UK has spoken much more about CC in the news than the US

variation between LW and RW

agendas change based on what type of media it is and who is sharing it

Question 17

role of TNC is the climate debate

Answer 17

oil and gas corporations have been the strongest opponents of climate change as they have an interest in keeping the use of fossil fuels and protecting their profits. Have resources which make them able to manipulate media and politicians and hire scientists to support their case

For example; Exxonmobile had a clash between their scientific findings and public statements made by company leaders who said that there was inconclusive evidence to suggest that human activities significantly affect the global climate. Were sued in 2020 for misleading the public about CC as they knew the devastating effects their products would cause. Had the money and power to bribe scientists and between 2003-07 were found to have given £5.6m to institutions to downplay the risk of CC

Question 18

what are TNCs agenda

Answer 18

trying to stay a strong business and knowledge of climate change would be bad for business so wanted to shape public opinion and to spread doubt about climate change. Exxon has known since the 1970s that its product would cause global warming

Question 19

significance of TNC in the climate debate

Answer 19

adverts have been since the 1980s- long term impact- Before the internet this would have more impact as newspapers were where everyone got the information so were able to dominate the narrative

Exxon funded think tanks and lobbys which can influence governments in US

have less impact now due to scientific consensus