Climate Change

Question 1

UNFCCC

Answer 1

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change:
-International treaty designed to bind nations together to act on climate change
-Aim= “stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”
-Annual conference of the Parties = assess progress of individual countries
-2021: 197 parties including all UN member states and the EU

Question 2

Kyoto Protocol

Answer 2

1997: 3rd COP meeting in Kyoto Japan aka Kyoto Protocol
-Parties committed to setting binding emissions reduction targets
-First commitment period = 2008-2012
Developed countries obligated to cut their emissions by 5% on 1990 levels
-2012: Emissions of developed countries were 22.6% lower than 1990 levels
-However targets not met by many states
-Us withdrew in 2001
-Australia, Norway, Iceland = plus targets (increase in emissions)
-During Kyoto period emissions from developing countries rose sharply

Question 3

Paris Agreement

Answer 3

Nov-Dec 2015: 21st conference of the parties (COP21) which led to Paris agreement
-Aim = keep global temperature increase well below 2 degrees and attempt to limit it to 1.5 degrees
-Establish credible reporting of emissions levels
-Review progress towards emission targets every 5 years
-Parties agreed to hold other countries to account
-100 billion a year in climate finances for developing countries by 2020

Question 4

Outcomes of Paris agreement

Answer 4

-Recognized that immediate action = needed to stop climate change
-Nearly every state agreed to set goals limiting temperature rises
-186/195 parties to the UNFCCC submitted binding reduction targets
-Binding targets for both developed and developing countries
-Covers 96% of global emissions (Kyoto Protocol = 14%)

Question 5

Glasgow climate pact:

Answer 5

31 Oct- 12 Nov 2021 :26th conference of the parties (COP 26) led to Glasgow climate pact
-Recognized urgency of the challenge to achieve Paris target of 1.5 degrees of warming
-Agreement = Ministers would submit stronger emissions target reduction targets to get back on track to achieve Paris target
-Developed countries should deliver more resources to help climate-vulnerable countries adapt to consequences e.g. dwindling crop yields and devastating storms
-Also aimed to reduce methane emissions, reverse forest loss, ditch internal combustion engine, phase out coal

Question 6

Outcomes of Glasgow climate pact

Answer 6

-151 countries submitted new climate plans to slash emissions by 2030
-To meet Paris goal, global emissions would need to halve by 2030
-UN estimates that existing plans = world on track for 2.5 degrees warming by the end of the century
-Some large emitter’s targets for 2030 (Australia, China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Russia lack credible policies to achieve them leading to ‘credibility gap’

Question 7

Economic developement

Answer 7

Economic development is he process whereby simple, low income national economics are transformed into modern industrial economies and citizens obtain a better standard of living.