Lecture xiii - Challenges in Implementing Strategies to Respond to Climate Change

Question 1

Name economic and political challenges in implementing strategies to respond to climate change

Answer 1

econ:
- high cost involved in transit n to low carbon econ
- access to finance - international coop, financing
- address equity, distributional impacts
- carbon pricing, maket mechanism

political:
- short vs long-term priorities
- global coop, diplomacy
- partisan politics & ideological diff

Question 2

Name some challenges due to uncertainties over future impacts of climate change

Answer 2

• risk assessmt, decision making
• adaptive capacity, resilience
• international coop, commitmt

Question 3

Explain high costs involved in transitioning to low-carbon economies as economic challenge

Answer 3

• signi upfront financial investmt needed to transit n to renew energy scs (solar, wind, hydro) & implement sustain low-carbon, energy-eff tech
  eg
  floating solar panel at sea part of SG’s investmt in clean energy on Jurong Island cost 6million SGD, while hydro-electric pwr plant like Three Gorges Dam, China & Belo Monte Dam, Brazil, cost abt 31.8 billion USD (2012) & 17.8 billion USD (2016) respectively
• high operat n cost of industrial processes, recruit professional expertise regular maintain infra oso pose great econ challenge
  eg
  unpredictability of climate (rise temp, erratic low rainfall) made it challenging for Mexico farmer plan cultivat n cycle effectively, cause falling crop yield, food, econ security due to droughts
  more frequent, prolonged droughts forced Mexican farmers plant drought-resistant crop eg pearl millet, pistachio nuts, cactuses needing less water
  w support fr govt, NGOs on sustain agri practice, these farmer oso aided to adopt water-eff irrigat n system, mixed crop farm technique to adapt to CC.
  Such drought-resistant agri, resilient irrigat n system come at a COST
  =>
  balance upfront costs of infra investmt may deter biz firm, govt fr take ambitious climate actions, particularly in short-term where there r competing budget, dvlopmtal priorities

Question 4

Explain access to finance (international cooperation and financing) as economic challenge

Answer 4

• CC is global challenge, need coord action by countries globally
• BUT, not all country hv financial mean implement migigat n, adapt n measures to respond to CC
• LDCs eg Chad (north-central Africa), Somalia (East Africa), Syria (W. Asia) in particular most prone to CC may lack access to financial rcs, eg grant, loan, investmt fr internatinoal scs) carry out necessary measure to combat CC, due to limited capacity, weak institutional framework, competing dvloping priorities
  eg
  Syria suffer fr weak govt institut n, econ crises eg inflat n, prevalent poverty, greatly hampered their capacity adapt, respond to CC
• LDCs thus need financial, technical support to pursue low-carbon dvlopmt, adapt to climate impacts
• HOWEVER, mobilising suff funding, ensure effective use of rcs remain signi econ challenge

Question 5

Explain addressing equity and distributional impacts as economic challenge

Answer 5

• CC affect diff grp ppl unequally; marginalised, vulnerable communties (eg those living in low-lying, coastal area) often bear disproportionate burden of climate-related risks, impacts
• benefits & costs of climate mitigat n, adapt n measures oso NOT evenly distributed across society/community
  eg
  while transit n to low-carbon econ, certain grp ppl eg low-income household, workers displaced fr job in carbon-intensive industries due to latter being unprofitable w implement n of climate policies, may bear disproportionate burden of costs, while others may benefit more fr environ policy to low-carbon emis n
  => vulnerable pop n in society shd hv equal access to rcs, support system when society respond to CC
  HOWEVER, indoing so, there may b tension btw equity considerat n, econ interest of certain stakeholders (ie balance need for econ competitiveness w environ sustain certainly key econ challenge for policy implement n)

Question 6

Explain carbon pricing and market mechanism as economic challenge

Answer 6

• implement carbon pricing mechanism eg carbon tax, cap-and-trade system can help incentivise reduct n in ghg emis n
• BUT, designing, implement effective carbon pricing policies need careful consider n of equity, distributional impacts, dvlopmental priorities, political feasibility (so pose econ challenge, may not suff address, quantify reduct n needed )
  => all econ challenge need investmt strategy, strong institutional framework, incentive, support mechanisms encourage investmt in low-carbon tech, promote social equity, facilitate international coop btw govt, firms, NGOs
• while respond to CC may involve short-term costs, econ benefit of take appropriate climate action now eg minimise restorat n cost, damage, improve public health, enhanced resilience against CC can outweigh costs in long run

Question 7

Explain short-term vs long-term priorities as political challenge

Answer 7

• CC is long-term challenge needing proactive plan, investmt, innovative climate policies
• BUT, political decision-making often influenced by short-term consider n, eg electoral cycles, immediate econ priorities eg econ growth, job creat n, national security
• trade-offs may arise btw short-term econ interest, long-term sustain goal, esp in industries heavily dependent on FF
  eg
  climate policies aimed at reduce ghg emis n eg carbon pricing, regulat n on carbon-intensive industries can hv econ implicat n eg job loss in these sector, commanding low wages
  concerns abt econ impacts of climate policies, esp for this vulnerable community, industries can cause opposit n, resistance fr affected stakeholders. This may thus influence govt fr implement low-carbon policies
• this tension btw short-term political interest & long-term nature of CC hence pose signi barrier to implement effective climate policies, poses signi challenge for policymakers

Question 8

Explain global cooperation and diplomacy as political challenge

Answer 8

• CC is global issue needing well-planned coord actions by countries worldwide
• negotiating international agreemt eg Paris Agreemt on CC facilitate global concerted coop fr member countries on achieve consensus on emis n reduct n target, climate finance mechanisms, tech transfer
• BUT, due to divergent national interests eg prioritise econ competitiveness over environ sustain, geopolitical tensions over rcs, it is political challenge for many countries build trust, foster coop, ensure equitable participat n for effective global response to CC
• oso, Pa fr industries heavily reliant on FF, hv vested interest in status quo may resist efforts by govt to enact climate policies that cld impact their profits, competitiveness
• they oso often wield considerable political influence thru threat to withdraw their local investmt, so more difficult for policymaker pass ambitious climate legislat n

Question 9

Explain partisan politics and ideological differences as political challenge

Answer 9

• CC is polarising issue in many countries; partisan divides often shape attitude towards climate policies
• political polarisat n can hinder bipartisan coop on climate legislat n, create barriers to consensus-build, delay policy decis n being made regarding climate strategies to b taken in response to CC
• besides this, strong political will, leadership oso necessary overcome resistance fr stakeholders w vested interests. Policymakers more often than not, face much Pa fr powerful industries eg FF producers, who may oppose climate regulat n threatening their econ interest
  => overcoming ideological divides, hv effective leadership foster consensus across political parties essential to mobilise rcs, enact effective climate policies in politically divided landscape
  => political challenges in implement strategies respond to CC can b addressed w proactive engagemt, strategic communicat n, inclusive decis n-make process involving diverse stakeholders w vested interests. Build collaborative support, foster dialogue across political divide, demonstrate common commitmt to econ, social benefit of response to CC r key to overcome political barriers, effectively implement climate policies

Question 10

Explain risk assessment and decision making as uncertainty over future impacts of climate change

Answer 10

• uncertainties surrounding mag, timing, regional variability of climate impacts make assessing risks accurately, make informed decisions challenging for policymakers, stakeholders
• long-term nature of CC add to difficulty of incorporate uncertain project n into short-term policy plan, investmt decis n
• oso, uncertainties in climate models, complex interact n btw climate, socio-econ systems make it difficult quantify accurately both cost of inaction & benefit of diff response strategies

Question 11

Explain adaptive capacity and resilience as uncertainty over future impact of climate change

Answer 11

• build resilience to CC need anticipate, prepare for future risk, uncertainties
• BUT, uncertainties abt timing, severity of climate impacts can complicate efforts to assess adaptive capacity, prioritise adapt n measures
• invest in flexible, robust, adaptive strategies that can withstand range of possible future scenario essential for build resilience in face of uncertainty
• oso, uncertainties abt future climate impacts can cause inertia, delay in implement adapt n, mitigat n measures
  => can cause tech, institutional lock-in, where large sum investmt r made insystems, infra that r ill-suited to future climate condit n, or hv high emis n intensity
• all these made it challenging implement climate strategies effectively

Question 12

Explain international cooperation and commitments as uncertainty over future impacts of climate change

Answer 12

• uncertainty abt future climate impacts can complicate efforts negotiate international agreemt, commitmt on emis n reduct n target, climate finance, tech transfer
• divergent views on severity, urgency of climate impacts, & concerns abt distributional impacts of mitigat n efforts can hinder global coop, consensus-build
• overcoming these challenges require diplomatic efforts bridge diff, build trust, foster collab among nations

Question 13

What can be concluded from uncertainties over future impacts of climate change?

Answer 13

• addressing uncertainties need multi-faceted approach, combine robust scientific research, adaptive plan, decis n-make process, stakeholder engagemt & international coop
• while uncertainties pose challenge, they oso underscore importance of take precautionary approach, invest in resilience-build measure that can enhance societal preparedness, adaptive capacity in face of changing climate