Climate Change and Environment

Question 1

Vienna Convention for the protection of the Ozone layer

Answer 1

1985 treaty that commits states to the regulatory framework for protecting the Ozone layer

Question 2

Montreal Protocol

Answer 2

Protocol to the Vienna convention treaty commits countries to phase out CFCs, ratified by 197 states, in 1991 countries create fund to help implement protocol

Question 3

Kyoto Protocol

Answer 3

1997 countries negotiate Kyoto protocol to the UNFCCC creating legally binding obligations to reduce greenhouse gasses based on 1990 emissions, created emissions-trading market, 192 countries ratify, US does not, Canada withdraws in 2012, Russia, Japan, New Zealand do not participate in second round

Question 4

Paris Agreement

Answer 4

The goal was to keep increase in global average temperature to “well below 2” degrees C above pre-industrial levels. Agreement is more flexible, countries determine their own mitigation commitments which are regularly reported. Regular resetting of nationally determined contributions. 195 countries sign including china and the US. In 2017 Trump pulls US from agreement, in 2021 Biden puts US back in, 2022 states create loss and damages fund for vulnerable countries

Question 5

UNFCCC

Answer 5

197 states ratify UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Question 6

Why did the Montreal Protocol work?

Answer 6

Hegemonic Stability Theory, US provided public good, cost adjustments were low for Dupont, CFCs were banned or reduced for easier compliance, multilateral fund

Question 7

principle of common but differentiated responsibility

Answer 7

All states have a shared responsibility to address environmental destruction, but not equal responsibility, usually linked to distinctions between developed and developing states

Question 8

What is an example of common but Undifferentiated responsibility and what protocol is it attributed to?

Answer 8

Each country had legally binding emissions targets for the Kyoto protocol