Environmental Global Governance

Question 1

key environmental global governance institutions and treaties

Answer 1

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Question 2

what is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)?

Answer 2

an international environmental treaty negotiated at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992

created as a mechanism for developing global environmental policy

established at the Rio Earth Summit (the UN Conference on Environment and Development) in 1992, came into force in 1994 and was ratified by 194 states and organisations by 2012

An international treaty that set up a process through which future international negotiations on climate change could take place

As a direct result of the UN FCC see there have been two major further agreements the Koyoto protocol and the Paris agreement

Question 3

what do signatories of the UNFCCC do?

Answer 3

signatory parties have met every year since 1995 to assess progress in dealing with climate change

parties to the treaty have to make national inventories of their sources of CO2 emissions and possible ways CO2 emissions could be absorbed

Question 4

UNFCCC: what happened at the 1997 Kyoto Summit?

Answer 4

at the 1997 Kyoto Summit, the 181 signatory states were required to freeze CO2 emissions at 1990 levels from 2000 onwards

this paved the way for the introduction of legally binding emission targets

Question 5

UNFCCC: how were the targets for different states worked out at the Kyoto Summit?

Answer 5

requirements of states were determined on the basis of equity and in accordance with states’ common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities

states that had contributed the most to global warming, had industrialised earlier or were more developed were expected to accept greater reductions in their emissions, while developing states were not expected to reduce theirs

Question 6

UNFCCC: criticisms

Answer 6

one criticism of the UNFCCC is that it did not take into account the fact that emissions by developing states would increase rapidly as their economic growth accelerated

another criticism is that the UNFCCC is merely a set of recommendations for further action, its rulings and requirements are not legally binding, so it seems to have limited effectiveness

Question 7

what is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

Answer 7

a UN body set up in 1988 as an internationally accepted authority on climate change

set up 4 years before the UNFCCC

created jointly by a UN agency known as the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

currently has 195 members

consists of leading climate change scientists, who volunteer to review the latest research on climate change

Panel of climate change experts set up by the UN to provide states and policy makers with expert advice on the causes of impacts and possible solutions to climate change

Question 8

what does the IPCC look at?

Answer 8

3 working groups look at: (1) the physical science basis of climate change, (2) climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability and (3) mitigation of climate change

there is also a task force on national greenhouse gas inventories

Question 9

what does the IPCC do?

Answer 9

provides impartial information and advice about climate change to decision-makers and interested organisations and groups

makes regular reports in which it seeks to improve understanding of climate change and influence policy at state level

Provides regular assessment of the causes and risks of climate change to persuade states to make a commitment to reducing climate change

Help to propose clear and viable solutions for actions and initiatives to reduce climate change

Produces regular reports which have helped to inform international meetings under the UNFCCC

Question 10

IPCC Assessment Reports

Answer 10

the most important reports it publishes are Assessment Reports, which assess the risks of climate change, its current and its projected impact and comment on the options for adaptation (coping with climate change) and mitigation (how to reduce emissions)

there have been 5 Assessment Reports, published in 1990, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2014, with a sixth report due in 2022

Question 11

what does the IPCC do through these reports?

Answer 11

through its reports, the IPCC influences understanding of and state policy making on climate change

it has established a consensus that climate change exists by providing evidence that the Earth’s temperature is rising as a result of human activity (through the production of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from burning fossil fuels)

Question 12

IPCC Assessment Report 2007

Answer 12

the 2007 Assessment Report projected that if nothing was done to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the world’s mean temperature would rise by 2.4 – 6.4 degrees C by 2099

the IPCC has made it increasingly difficult for states to ignore the issue of climate change and in 2007 it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts in raising awareness of climate change

Question 13

criticisms of the IPCC: OUT OF DATE

Answer 13

it relies on already published research, which undergoes long, exacting reviews, meaning that its reports may be years out of date which could lead to an underestimation of the extent of climate change

Question 14

criticisms of the IPCC: QUESTIONABLE VALIDITY

Answer 14

some people question the validity of some scientific assumptions on which the Assessment Reports’ judgements are based

for example, assumptions about the oceans’ capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, which are much disputed by the scientific community

Question 15

criticisms of the IPCC: SCAREMONGERING

Answer 15

the IPCC has been accused of scaremongering, making predictions that do not stand up to scrutiny

for example, the 2014 Assessment Report claimed that there is a “risk of death, injury and disrupted livelihoods in low-lying coastal zones and small island developing states, due to sea level rise, coastal flooding and storm surges”

yet critics argue that the frequency and severity of flooding in many areas were higher during the Little Ice Age (1300-1870) and other cool eras than during the 20th century

Question 16

what is the global commons?

Answer 16

The global resources and environment that are shared among nation states as no government or sovereign state owns them these include the atmosphere oceans polar regions and outer space

Question 17

what is the tragedy of the commons?

Answer 17

The challenge that in a system of global politics dominated by selfish national interest and competition for economic power and natural resources states will be motivated to use and even harm the global commons to advance their own interests rather than work together to protect these shared resources and environments

Question 18

what is sustainability?

Answer 18

Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Report, 1987)

It therefore embodies to concepts the concept of need particularly the essential needs of the world is poor and the concept of limitations especially related to the environment ability to meet future as well as present needs

Question 19

why is there a need for environmental global governance?

Answer 19

Global governance is the process by which nationstates cooperate with each other and with nonstate actors in order to try to resolve collective dilemmas

Climate change is perhaps a unique collective problem as every state contributes in someway to its causes every state is affected in some way by the consequences of climate change every state can have an impact in solving the problem

All states are affected by environmental changes the widespread impact of industrialisation us into this with all developed and most developing states contributing to global pollution

To tackle environmental challenges affectively states need to agree to international standards and laws that govern how they develop and limit the impact on the environment just as universal human rights are a little value internationally if states do not agree to international law international efforts to protect the environment are likely to be fruitless without effective environmental global governance

Question 20

emerging economic powers: China’s actions to tackle climate change

Answer 20

China has already hit its Twenty20 target to cut carbon emissions it managed to cut CO2 omissions by 46% per unit of economic growth from 2005 levels

Between 2005 in 2015 China’s economy grew by 1.48 times but it’s carbon intensity dropped by 38.6%

The successes can be attributed to China’s flagship carbon trading scheme

China also established 10 binding environmental targets in its 13th five-year plan 2016 to 2020 with the aim to reduce carbon intensity by 18% by 2020

It also invested $34.6 billion in clean technology in 2009 and produces more wind turbines and solar panels each year than any other country

China is a climate change leader but is still not doing enough on emissions the CO2 omissions increased in 2017 (estimates between 1.4 and 4.1% growth in emissions) because it burned more coal

As the biggest contributor to climate change and global warming China must be more especially since Trump is on willing to do so

Question 21

established economic powers: the UK’s actions to tackle climate change

Answer 21

The climate change act 2008 made the UK the first country to establish a long-term legally binding framework to cut carbon emissions

It contains a target requiring emission is to be reduced by 80% by 2050

the committee on climate change was also set up to ensure omissions targets are being met

The committee on climate change is a panel of experts that advises the government on how targets can be met reports to Parliament on progress made et cetera

According to the committee on climate change the UK is failing to tackle climate change on almost all key measures of success

Question 22

less developed states: Nigeria’s actions to tackle climate change

Answer 22

As a party to the Paris agreement Nigeria has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030 and to pursue a 45% reduction if sufficient international support is received

Intends to achieve this by ending gas flaring (binding of excess gas from oil and gas production) increasing the use of renewable energy implementing climates more agriculture and championing reforestation efforts

There is little evidence to show that these are actually being pursued with enough momentum to meet these targets the government seems to be more focused on increasing industrialisation and rising oil production

Question 23

differences between developing and developed states

Answer 23

As the international community has tried to find solutions to climate change and ways of reducing its impact on various points developing states have argued that the pressure put on them to take steps to reduce climate change is not fair

Differences of opinion between developed and developing states have reduced considerably in recent years but nevertheless during key international environmental negotiations developing states have raised grievances

Question 24

issues that developing states have with climate change agreements: THEY ARE BEING HELD TO HIGHER STANDARDS

Answer 24

Developed states did not have to consider protecting the environment when they were industrialising they did so and restricted by government regulations now that developing states are industrialising at aiming to catch up we develop stays there having to do so while on the international pressure to agree to rules for example That limit the types of energy used

Developing states argue that they are being held accountable to a higher standard than that was required of developed states when they were developing

Question 25

issues that developing states have with climate change agreements: THE NEED TO INDUSTRIALISE

Answer 25

Developing states still have large populations living in poverty industrialisation and development through the use of carbon energy always reducing poverty with expanding industry providing jobs and better wages

Question 26

issues that developing states have with climate change agreements: THEY HAVE PRODUCED LESS HISTORIC EMISSIONS

Answer 26

Historically developed nations are responsible for much of the pollution and climate change a consequence of a period of industrialisation

In its submission to the Paris climate change conference India estimated that it was responsible for only 3% of historic cumulative omissions

China the EU Japan Russia and the US together have been responsible for 2/3 of the worlds historic carbon dioxide emissions

Question 27

however, developing states are producing more emissions far more rapidly than developed states

Answer 27

Emissions in developed states or stable wall those in developing states are increasing rapidly

For example scientists estimate that if India’s economic growth continues at the rate of 8.5% per year it’s omissions will soon reach 1/5 of the total world emissions

Large population growth makes the potential challenge more pressing and developing states emissions are currently increasing and will continue to do so if no action is taken

Question 28

the IPCC

Answer 28

The IPCC intergovernmental panel on climate change is an IGO founded in 1988

And international panel of scientists and researchers that provide advice on climate change to the international community

Established in 1988 by the world meteorological organisation of the United Nations environment program to provide decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about an issue that had become increasingly complex and controversial

Question 29

the IPCC

Answer 29

The IPCC does not conduct any research neither does it monitor climate change related data or parameters

Its role is to assess on a comprehensive open and transparent basis the latest scientific technical and socio economic literature produced worldwide

With a view to better understanding the risks of anthropocentric climate change its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation

Question 30

the IPCC

Answer 30

The most significant work of the IPCC is in publishing reports the most important being assessment reports

Hundreds of scientists all over the world contribute to these reports as authors contributors and reviewers drawing mainly on reviewed and published scientific literature

Five assessment reports have been produced to date

Question 31

the IPCC

Answer 31

IPCC first assessment report 1990 this played a decisive role in leading to the FCCC

Question 32

the IPCC

Answer 32

IPCC second assessment report 1995 this provided a key input for the negotiations that led to the Koyoto protocol in 1997

Question 33

the IPCC

Answer 33

Third assessment report 2001 this provided further information relevant to the development of the FCCC and the Koyoto protocol

Question 34

the IPCC

Answer 34

Fourth assessment report 2007 this provided more evidence of the link between climate change and anthropocentric greenhouse gas concentrations

Question 35

the IPCC

Answer 35

Fifth assessment report 2013 this concluded that it is 95% certain that humans are the dominant cause of global warming

Question 36

the IPCC

Answer 36

The wider membership of the IPCC its reputation for objectivity and its reliance on worldwide scientific expertise gives the IPCC unrivalled influence in shaping how the international community understands and responds to the issue of climate change

Question 37

the IPCC

Answer 37

It has played a leading role in building consensus among scientists and national politicians about the existence of climate change and the fact that it is a consequence of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and is therefore linked to the burning of fossil feels

Question 38

the IPCC

Answer 38

Its influence can be seen in the growing acceptance that climate change is an issue that demands the attention of the international community making it increasingly difficult for countries like Russia Australia USA China and India to remain outside the climate change regime

The IPCC was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2006

Question 39

the IPCC

Answer 39

However the IPCC has also attracted criticism some argue that its emphasis on already published scientific data and on exacting reviews (the fourth assessment report took six years to produce) means that its judgement and conclusions are dangerously out of date and therefore tend to underestimate the seriousness of the climate change challenge

Question 40

the IPCC

Answer 40

The summary for policymakers the only bit of an assessment report that is read by most politicians and journalists is a politically negotiate a document that sometimes omits controversial judgements found in the larger report

Question 41

the IPCC

Answer 41

Some scientists also challenge the basis on which IP cc projections and conclusions are developed

For example IPCC projections about global warming are founded on assumptions about the capacity of the oceans to absorb carbon dioxide that many environmentalist dismiss as unsound

The IPCC has also been criticised for overstating its claims (not least the claim found in the 2007 report but retracted into 2010 but the Himalayan glaziers would disappear by 2035) and for sacrificing its reputation for scientific neutrality by being seen to campaign for radical cuts in omissions