Global: Environmental Governance Flashcards
strengths of membership of the UNFCCC?
widespread membership. no state has ever left, and every member of the UN is also a member of the UNFCCC.
weaknesses of membership of the UNFCCC?
less accountability for developing nations - eg china increased its emissions by 300% between 1992 and 2009 with little penalisation
strengths of decision making of the UNFCCC?
body is able to change approach depending on circumstances. for example the 2015 paris treaty asked much more of developing nations than the 1997 kyoto meeting did - in this time growing economies like china had undergone mass industrialisation causing them to produce immense amounts of pollution
weaknesses of decision making of the UNFCCC?
many COPs saw nearly no decisions being made - copenhagen saw no legally binding targets, kyoto 1997 was unambitious - theme of non-binding agreements running through all COPs
strengths of effectiveness of the UNFCCC?
some legally binding commitments have occured as a result of the COP summits. eg paris 2015 created legally binding committment to collective action staying well below a 2 degree global temperature increase. all members agreed to nationally determined contributions (NDCs) every 5 years. penalty for missing these targets
weaknesses of effectiveness of the UNFCCC?
many COPs have seen little to no agreement being reached around binding decisions and actions being taken that would meaningfully mitigate climate change. eg copenhagen 2009 was disastrous and achieved essentially no agreement. States were allowed to set their own NDCs at paris 2015, so were largely meaningless.
strengths of membership of the IPCC?
almost universal membership - 195 member states. experts making recommendations are inclusive of both developed and developing world - arguably better than UNFCCC in this regard.
weaknesses of membership of the IPCC?
perhaps too critical of developing world producing emissions - little alternatives being provided for poorer nations in lifting them out of poverty besides industrialisation
strengths of decision making of the IPCC?
credible, trustworthy and neutral evidence base. academic compromise due to the number of scientists that work on the reports. focused on the growing severity of the problem, arguably compelling states to act more quickly
weaknesses of decision making of the IPCC?
actions following the reports are often limited. governments may acknowledge the reports, but then do little with the information they are providing.
strengths of effectiveness of the IPCC?
some action has been taken as a result of the reports - eg the UK government is committed to net zero by 2050 - shows reports may be having some impact on direct action being taken
weaknesses of effectiveness of the IPCC?
reports are completely non-binding. IPCC is only an advisory body and as a result effectiveness is severely limited.
