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A2: Global Politics - Edexcel A level > Global Governance: Environmental > Flashcards

Global Governance: Environmental Flashcards

1
Q

How is climate change a unique collective action problem?

A

Every state contributes in some way to its causes, is affected by it and can have an impact on solving it, big or small.

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2
Q

What are the three things states need to work together on climate change?

A
  • A framework to agree the existence and extent of climate change (The Paris Agreement (2015)) and independent scientific evidence (IPCC)
  • Forums to debate and agree upon possible solutions (COP)
  • International laws and treaties to keep other states accountable and taking action
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3
Q

What % of the scientific community agree that climate change is a problem and what % agree it is due to human activity?

A

A problem: 100%
Human activity: 97%

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4
Q

Since when have scientists noted the negative effects of climate change?

A

In the 80’s, it was established that the rapid increase in greenhouse gases (as musch as 35%), due to growing CO2 and methane emissions, are increasing the global temperature.

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5
Q

What are three harmful effects of climate change on people?

A
  • Many coastal regions will face rising sea levels and exacerbated coastal flooding, pushing them out of their homes and many into poverty; The World Bank: the Maldives could be underwater by 2100
  • States will begin to wage resource wars for things like water which the UN finds is made more scarce due to droughts
  • Increased natural disasters such as floods and droughts can afect food security, such as Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 Phillipines
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6
Q

What is the Global Commons? Giev each of them.

A

The spaces which no state lays claim to and all are resposible for the upkeep of.
- The high seas
- The atmosphere
- The polar regions
- Outer space

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7
Q

Give two ways that the ‘high seas’ have been affected by climate change.

A
  • Pollution and littering: oil spills and chemical pollution like the 2010 BP oil spill affected 176,000km of the ocean
  • Fauna: a 1.5C temperature rise could make waters uninhabitable for 60% of fish by 2100
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8
Q

Give two ways that the atmosphere has been affected by climate change.

A
  • Pollution: 3.5 million a year die from air pollution (1.85 being Chinese)
  • Natural disasters: the number of climate related natural disasters has tripled in the last 30 years, IPCC also says they’re getting worse
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9
Q

Give two ways that the polar regions have been affected by climate change.

A
  • Melting: Antarctica is losing about 136bn tonness of ice a year, the polar ices sheets having lost 7.6tn tonnes of ice
  • Resource wars: states are increasingly attempting to lay claim to them as a source of oil (13 of udiscovered reserves), Russian explorers planting a flag on the sea bed in 2007
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10
Q

Give one way that outer space has been affected by climate change.

A
  • Pollution: NASA estimates that therre are up to 500,000 pices of human-generated space debris orbiting Earth.
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11
Q

Give an international law protecting each of the Global Commons.

A
  • The High Seas Treaty (2023) aims to place 30% of the sea under protection by 2030
  • Kyoto Protocol set legally binding emissions targets for states
  • the Antarctica Treaty protects Antarctica from resource extraction
  • The Outer Space Treaty protected it from ‘harmful contamination’
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12
Q

What is the Tragedy of the Commons?

A

Hardin argues that the Global Commons are doomed to be exploited as states’ interests and teh interests of the environment rarely align, such as the cost of becoming sustainable or the strategic loss of weaker economic power.

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13
Q

Why might there not be a Tragedy of the Commons?

A

What is harmful on an international level is harmful on a national level: deaths from air pollution and increasing worries about drought and famine are what led China and India respectively to join the Paris Agreement.

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14
Q

What is sustainable development?

A

The alternative to ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’, arguing that economic growth can and should be achieved without harming the environment and putting the needs of future generations at risk.

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15
Q

How do the Sustainable Development Goals support states?

A
  • Science: The UN provides funding and training for climate change research within states, along with that of the IPCC
  • Costs: The UN brings together different groups like businesses and developing states to help ease the transition to sustainability
  • Data: The UN advises states on how to use census data to find the impacts and potential risks of climate change
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16
Q

What is weak sustainability?

A

The belief that sustainable development is for thepurpose of ensuring the next generations have the same resources as us; as such, economic and human capital are interchangeable, such as the economic gain of a new airport outweighing the environmental cost.

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17
Q

What is strong sustainability?

A

Favoured by radical ecologists, environmental costs are seen as outweighing economic gain as human capital is a blight on nature rather than equal. They believe that the environment is something borrowed that should be passed from one generation to the next.

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18
Q

What is ecologism?

A

A political ideology that places emphasis on the effect of states’ and other actors’ effects on the environment, believing that its protection is a moral duty.

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19
Q

What is deep ecology?

A

Naess argues that the environment should be protected for the sake of the environment itself, regardless of the effect on humans, rejecting the notion of states’ interests. Very rooted in spiritualism.

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20
Q

What is shallow ecology?

A

Weston argues that we should protect the environment so that we can continue to benefit from it, such as the efficent usage of natural resources to savour them. More rooted in pragmatism.

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21
Q

What is the realist view of tackling climate change?

A
  • Realists favour weak sustainability, believing that economic position of a state must not be lost in favour of environmental gain
  • Tragedy of Global Commons due to national interest
  • Agrement on Shallow ecology
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22
Q

What is the liberal view of tackling climate change?

A
  • Climate change is a collective action problem that requires global governance and cooperation to be solved
  • Belief in sustainable development due to human reason
  • Agreement on shallow ecology
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23
Q

What are the two main issues surrounding eonvironmental global governance?

A
  • The dynamic between developing and developed states
  • Climate scepticism
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24
Q

What are the four main grievances of developed states about climate action?

A
  • Developed states industrialised and developed with little care for the environmental impact, but now expect developing states to
  • Environmental restrictions go against the low regulation doctrine that developed states preach
  • Industrialisation is a good way to reduce poverty
  • Historic emissions come from developed states
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25
Q

How quickly did Russia industrialise?

A

In roughly 10 years (1928-40), Russial’s industrial output more than quadrupled and 20% of the labour force moved from agriculture to manufacturing.

26
Q

Pravalie (2014) and nuclear testing:

A

Even after multiple Nuclear Test Ban Treaties, underground and atmospheric nuclear weapons testing ecologically destroyed sites and sourrounding areas with high levels of radioactivity.

27
Q

What did India say at the Paris Conference?

A

India is responsible for 3% of historic emissions, whereas the US and EU are responsible for 16% and 15% respectively.

28
Q

What 4 groups make up 2/3 of historic emissions?

A
  • The EU
  • China
  • Russia
  • The US
29
Q

Give three arguments for developing states playing a significant role in tackling climate change.

A
  • Emissions in developing states are increasing rapidly
  • The poorest states are the ones most affected
  • Large population growth makes the potential challenge more pressing
30
Q

What will the effect of India’s increasing economic growth be on the environment?

A

If they continue to grow at 8.5%/year, their emissions will soon reach 1/5 of that which the world can handle before dangerous 2C temp rise.

31
Q

How much faster is Africa’s population growing than Europe?

A

12x
0.2% V 2.4%

32
Q

How has India taken steps to tackle climate change? What’s the problem?

A
  • Ratified Paris Agreement in 2016
  • Has promised to generate 40% of its energy from non-fossil fuels by 2030
    This will cost them about $3tn, will need help
    The population is set to grow by 25% by 2030, future energy needs will be high
33
Q

How has Brazil taken steps to tackle climate change?

A
  • Thrid largest emitter to ratify Paris
  • Aims to use renewables for 45% of energy consumption by 2030
  • Largely focussed on reducing deforestation which is the majority of their emissions, reduced by 80% since 2004
34
Q

How has the AU taken steps to address climate change? What’s the problem?

A
  • Most African countries at least signed Paris
  • World Bank invested $16bn into the African Climate Business Plan
    WB estimated that Africa will need thet much every 3 years to achieve Paris goals, cost rising mid-century
35
Q

How has there been increasing responsibility taken by developed states in fighting climate change?

A

COP29 raised Paris’s $100bn for sustainable development by 2020 goal to $300bn by 2035. They also agreed to aim for $1.3tn for per year by 2035 from public and private sources.

36
Q

What are three types of climate change scepticism?

A
  • Those who don’t believe the earth is warming at all (Trump 2012)
  • Those who believe it is natural and not human activity (Farage and Reform)
  • Those who deny its severity
37
Q

What did Trump call global warming in 2012?

A

“A hoax” created by China to make American manufacturing uncompetitive.

38
Q

How has Trump’s second term so far reflected his climate scepticism?

A
  • Pulled out of Paris Agreement (again)
  • Declared a national energy emergency to exepedite energy projects, “drill, baby, drill!”
  • One executive order to “maximise the development and production of natural resources” in Alaska
39
Q

What is the UNFCCC?

A

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change commits signatories to combat climate change as a collective effort

40
Q

What is the origins and membership of the UNFCCC?

A

Created in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, now has near universal membership at 198 states.

41
Q

What are the aims of the UNFCCC?

A

To act as a supervisor of climate efforts and act as a system to help states organise summits, funds and general climate action.

42
Q

What are the main actions taken by the UNFCCC?

A
  • Provise a framework for organisation
  • Organises the yearly COP summits
  • Finances the ‘Green Climate Fund’ and ‘Adaptation Fund’ for developing nations
  • Campaigns like ‘Race to Zero’ and ‘Race to Resilience’ for Non-state actors
43
Q

What are the core achievements of the UNFCCC?

A
  • Kyoto and Paris Agreements
  • COP meetings and agreements like the 2022 Loss and Damage fund for climate change-impacted countries
  • Meeting of the Copenhage $100bn fund target
44
Q

What are the main limitations of the UNFCCC?

A
  • Difficulty balancing the roles of developed and developing states (Kyoto)
  • No enforcement power (Trump)
  • Changes in government can damage cooperation (Trump)
45
Q

What is the origins of the IPCC?

A

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was created in 1988 to create impartial advice, research and scientific study on the climate change that could not be associated with a single state.

46
Q

What are the main actions of the IPCC?

A
  • Advises governments on climate policy
  • Provides balanced and rigorous assessments
  • Provides regular reports relating to climate change that are regularly used in international summits
47
Q

What are the most important messages of the 6 IPCC asessment reports (AR1-6)?

A
  • Originally they predicted temperature rise of 0.3C/year (AR1/2), but raised to 1.5C after 2015 (AR5)
  • Many of the impacts of climate change can be reduced, delayed, or avoided through mitigation (AR4)
  • Global heating is now “irreversible” and “any further delay… will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.” (AR6)
48
Q

What are the main achievements of the IPCC?

A
  • The AR6 are the most authoritative sources on climate change, its impact and mitigation
  • Shaped the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreements
  • Special report on global warming of 1.5C (2018) pushed leaders to have more ambitious targets
49
Q

What are the limitations of the IPCC?

A
  • Can only provide advice, no enforcements
  • Still fighting against climate change deniers
  • Reports can take up to 7 years to produce, often meaning they are Outdated-On-Arrival
50
Q

Give the successes and limitations of The Rio Earth Summit (1992)

A

+ 117 world leaders attended, brought climate change to the forefront, amidst its continuing denial
+ Established the UNFCCC
- Failed to commit members to any specific actions

51
Q

Give the successes and limitations of Kyoto (1997)

A

+ Set the first legally binding emissions targets
+ Established a carbon trading scheme to appeal to the private sector
- Only required reduced emissions for developed states, excluding China and India who were becoming huge emitters
- Consequently, the US refused to sign

52
Q

Give the successes and limitations of Copenhagen (2009)

A

+ Agreement that temp rise should be limited to 2C within the century
+ China and India agreed to reduce carbon emissions for the first time
+ $100bn fund created for sustainable development
- Did not set legally binding targets
- No consensus reached about relationship between developing and developed states

53
Q

Give the successes and limitations of Paris (2015)

A

+ Went further, arguing that temp rise should be kept as close to 1.5C as possible
+ States set their own targets (NDCs) making it more likely they will follow them
+ Both developed and developing states were expected to reduce emissions
- No legally binding targets
- IPCC found that NDCs would not be enough to keep rise below 2C within the century
- We hit 1.5 in 2024

54
Q

Give the successes and limitations of Glasgow (2021)

A

+ Agreement to ‘phase down coal’
+ 90% of states committed to ‘net-zero’ carbon emissions
+ 137 states committed to “halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation” by 2030
- India and China refused to ‘phase out coal’ so forced ‘phase down’
- China, India, and Russia refused to reduce methane emissions, despite being the three biggest emitters and it being responsible for 30% of global temp rise

55
Q

Give the successes and limitations of COP28

A

+ States agreed to ‘transition away from fossil fuels’
- 130 states wanted ‘phase out’ instead but were pressured by petrol-states
- Held in UAE whose economy is 30% oil

56
Q

Give the successes and limitations of COP29

A

+ Tripled Paris $100bn goal to $300bn
+ Agreed to aim for $1.3tn for per year by 2035 from public and private sources.
- Third authoritarian state to host the COP
- China still considered developing so has no formal obligation to cut emissions
- “Oil is a gift from God” - the Azeri President

57
Q

Give three arguments for and against that global governance has adequately tackled climate change.

A
  • Regular COP meetings and summits V few enforceable targets
  • NDCs V efficacy of NDCs
  • Growing role of developing world V the continuing refusal of great/superpowers
58
Q

Why can tackling climate change be most important at a state level?

A

States are more likely to do what they want, so they are more likely to act on their own ideas than that which is pushed on them.

59
Q

Give three examples of tackling climate change on a state level.

A
  • The UK Department for Energy & Climate Change was created in 2008 as the first first department tasked with energy and climate policy.
  • The Climate Change Act 2008 also legally required future UK governments to take steps to reduce UK Carbon emissions by 80% by 2050
  • Brazil passed the Native Vegetation Protection Act 2003, aiming to recover 20mn hectares of Amazon Rainforest
60
Q

Why can tackling climate change be most important at a city level?

A

States can be lengthy in processes and scrutiny, whereas cities have more freedom. Dense urban populations also emmit more greenhouse gases (London accounts for 11% of the UK’s)

61
Q
A

A2: Global Politics - Edexcel A level (5 decks)

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