International Climate Change Agreements

Question 1

Rio de Janiero (1997)

The successes

Answer 1

• Recognised that climate change is a global problem - concluding that sustainable development was an attainable goal for everyone.
• 172 states, including 108 heads of govt, attended - provided the conference global recognition and legitimacy.
• Participating governments were given the opportunity to adopt the UNFCCC - attending regular conferences to achieve progress by developing agreements on how to respond to climate change.
• Strongly represented NGOs - demonstrating the importance in creating strategies to protect the environment.

Question 2

Rio de Janeiro (1992)

Weaknesses

Answer 2

• Didn’t commit states to legally enforcable target reductions with no mechanism to monitor states’ strategies.
• Failed to achieve consensus between developed and developing nations on how the burden (an inconvience) of carbon reduction should be shared - it places the most responsibility on the developed states as their economic growth is restricted.

Question 3

Kyoto (1997)

Strengths

Answer 3

• Took practical steps, providing binding targets for carbon reductions.
• Kyoto Protocal = by 2012 to reduce emissions by 5.2% on 1990 levels.
• Encouraged signatories to exceed their carbon targets because of a scheme known as ‘cap and trade’ = states that failed to achieve their targets could purchase ‘credits’ from those who did - the financial incentitive encouraged investment in green tech.

Question 4

Kyoto (1997)

Weaknesses

Answer 4

• Responsibility was firmly placed on the developed world, exempting the emerging world despite their emmissions significantly increasing through industrialisation (e.g China’s rising from 300%).
• Different targets were contentious = P Bush (2001-9) regarded the ambitious target of 7% given to the USA was unfair - withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2001.
• Failed to come in force as it wasn’t ratified by 55% of the world’s carbon emmitters until 2005, when Russia signed.

Question 5

Copenhagen (2009)

Strengths

Answer 5

• Recognised that ‘deep cuts in the carbon emissions are required according to science’ and global temp rise needed to be kept 2°C above pre-ind levels.
• The Copenhagen Accord acknowledged that as emerging countries industrialised, their carbon emmissions rose. So, nations must collaborate, being significantly more legitimate bc the conferences were attended by the leaders of the USA (Obama) and China (Wen) - both superpowers.
• In total, nations responsible for 80% of the world’s carbon emissions agreed to collaborate.
• In order for the developing world to adapt to green tech, the developed world would committ $100B in aid by 2020 and set up a green climate fund.

Question 6

Copenhagen (2009)

Weaknesses

Answer 6

• Didn’t establish binding carbon-reducing targets for each state, or rigorous methods of enforcement.
• Even if lack of enforcement encouraged more nations to agree, its lack of coercive power meant states were free to ignore its commitments.
• Respecting national sovereignty means it failed to generate enough of a sense of urgency to resolve the problems of climate change.

Question 7

Paris (2015)

Strengths

Answer 7

• Paris Conference recognised the temperature’s rise in the 21st century must be no more than 2°C.
• Accepted that carbon emissions must peak ASAP and there must be a rapid reduction soon after.
• 184 states and the EU ratified the treaty by 2019, representing 88% of the world’s carbon emissions.
• These states will decide their own ‘ambitious’ targets (known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) that are monitored to encourage compliance.

Question 8

Paris (2015)

Weaknesses

Answer 8

• Like previous conferences, nations have been unprepared to agree to mandatory cuts in their carbon emissions to be enforced by an outside agency.
• States decide their cuts themselves, rather than being determined by a supranational authority - an issue as states aren’t committed to extensive enough cuts in carbon emissions.
• In 2018, the IPCC announced that even if all the commitments made at Paris were fulfilled, global temperature increase would be 3% in the 21st centiry.
• Not conforming examples = Russia, responsible for 7.5% of global carbon emissions, have been criticised for their limited INDCS and in 2017, President Trump announced US withdrawl from the agreement.

Question 9

Glasgow (COP26) - 2021

Strengths

Answer 9

• $130 trillion spent towards achieving net-zero = a private investment.
• International Sustainability Standards (ISSB) to develop a global baseline for disclosure standards (UK to ennforce all companies by 2025).
• Clear standards for measuring net-zero commitments in the private sector.
• Increases the pace of implementing the Paris Agreement - the Paris agreement ‘rulebook’ closes loop holes and provides operational transparency.

Question 10

Glasgow (COP26) - 2021

Weaknesses

Answer 10

• Failed to achieve the 1.5°C target.
• Coal to be phased out rather = China/India wouldn’t agree to remove in full and the UK has thought of reopening a coal mine because of the emergy crisis.
• Global warmining is still on track for 2.4°C.
• The $100 billion climate finance, as agreed upon in 2009, is delayed until 2023.