Climate change response

Question 1

the Great Acceleration

Answer 1

significant growth in 1950s that aligned with earth system trends e.g. GDP and temperatures. suggested as start of Anthropocene

Question 2

Anthropocene

Answer 2

when human activity began to have significant impact on earth’s ecosystems

Question 3

Neo-liberalism

Answer 3

emphasises role of free market (less govt intervention, strong property rights)

Question 4

Change mindset towards environmental management by:

Answer 4

1. Minimal governance (market takers responsibility
2. Reregulation (minimal)
3. Privatisation (enclosure of natural commons/property rights)
4. Valuation (making nature a tradable commodity/pricing it)

Question 5

Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons

Answer 5

occurs when resource is in common ownership and is overexploited as gains go to individual but consequences shared
e.g. overfishing

Question 6

Private property rights encourage

Answer 6

self care of resources as if it directly affects them

Question 7

Emissions Trading Scheme and Kyoto Protocol

Answer 7

each country has assigned amount units (AAUs) of carbon emissions (a cap) they have to meet. If over, country can buy another country’s surplus cap to decrease their own emissions within a new cap (price incentive to reduce emissions e.g. forestry)

Question 8

REDD+

Answer 8

Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (make a property right for the carbon held in forests so they can be sold in carbon markets)

Question 9

Steps of REDD+

Answer 9

1. Forest community takes up financial incentive to protect forests
2. They buy equipment to measure baseline of carbon in trees
3. Third party certify this amount and turn them into carbon credits
4. Purchaser can then buy these credits to offset their emissions in order to meet cap under Emissions Trading Scheme.
5. Proceeds from sale of credits returned to Forest Community to develop alternative economies like sustainable development projects (that avoid deforestation)

Question 10

Requirements/issues of REDD+

Answer 10

Required accurate carbon conversion, monitoring, robust methodologies
Creates political issues like forest ownership, international intervention, cultural breaches (i.e. indigenous groups who rely on forest lose their property rights).

Question 11

Climate justice

Answer 11

social movement that rethinks environmental issues as social issues as well e.g. polluting industries being predominantly based in black, migrant, poor communities (necessary movement because CC exacerbates already existing inequalities)

Question 12

Just Transition

Answer 12

Ensuring that in transition to becoming a low carbon economy, there has to be fairness/equity

Question 13

Kate Rawlin’s Donut economy

Answer 13

Model shows and economy that aims to meet the needs of all people within the means of the planet (close hole whilst not expanding diameter). Necessary as can’t just stay on ‘keep growing’ trajectory (unsustainable)

Question 14

Regenerative vs extractive economies

Answer 14

Shift from extractive economy to regenerative economy by transferring power to democracy and equality

Question 15

NZ Just Transition Summit

Answer 15

Co-ordinate NZ shift to being a low emissions economy e.g. no more offshore oil and gas exploration permits granted