Unit 5 - Mitigation Policies and Development

Question 1

The admospheric concentration of CO2

Answer 1

pre-industrial 280ppm
2005 - 380ppm
2007 - 396ppm
2013 - 400ppm

Question 2

Major themes to be included in any post-Kyoto framework

Answer 2

• strengthening of ER targets for Annex 1 countries
• more formal inclusion of non-Annex 1 countries in mitigation efforts (India and China are now stopping/hindering this)
• formal & agreed mechanism on REDD in the mitigation framework
• new financial mechanisms to support global mitigation action
• streamlining of mechanisms to facilitate the transfer of mitigation technologies.

Question 3

The Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms (to assist countries in adopting mitigation strategies to meet their targets):

Answer 3

1. Emissions Trading Scheme(s) - ETS - biggest is EU-ETS, no global version
2. JI
3. CDM

Question 4

GHG emissions have been an externality of economic action

Answer 4

the costs of the effects of releasing GHGs into the atmosphere have not been incuded in the costs of those actions producing the emissions.

Question 5

The two major mitigation policy options

Answer 5

• price based
  market forces provide direct drive for behaviour change
• non-price based
  designed and controlled by agents of governance

Question 6

Carbon pricing (C-pricing) or setting a price on Carbon
two main ways

Answer 6

Internalising the externality

1. Tax on GHG emissions
2. Cap and Trade

Question 7

Non-price based policy options to mitigate GHG emissions

Answer 7

• regulation (standards or control)
• subsidies / levying taxes (FIT/MEP etc)
• new mechanisms (like REDD or technology transfer stimulation)
• R&D support (to include some sources of GHG emissions)

Question 8

What factors influence the effectiveness of non-market policy options for mitigation?

Answer 8

1. Intended policy results
2. Political pressure
3. Policy cohesion
4. Balancing short- and long-term gains
5. Time lags in R&D
6. Policy fit

Question 9

How to assess mitigation progress?

Answer 9

1. the fundamental changes in global GHG emissions
2. performance towards targets
3. Progress towards and in international policy agreements to facilitate mitigation

Question 10

3 main critisisms of the KP mechanism and process

Answer 10

1. the ER targets (not global, not ambitious enough, not fair/just)
2. mechanisms for achieving targets (inappropriate, inadequate, ineffective)
3. UNFCCC processes for negotiating targets and mechanisms

Question 11

Examples of mitigation regulations

Answer 11

1. reductions in fossil fuel use
   a - reduce ff use through increase RE production
   b - increased use of biofuels in transport fuels
2. energy efficiency
3. CCS
4. Individual behaviour change

Question 12

What does the Kaya Identity tells us?

Tanner, 2014 - chapter 4

Answer 12

4 ways to reduce energy related emissions:

1. reduce population
2. producing/consuming less
3. increase efficiency
4. reduce reliance on carbon-rich fuels by switching to lower carbon energy sources.

Question 13

what should be the mitigation target adopted by post-kyoto policy?

Answer 13

to reach 2 degree C max, it should be -85% compared to the 2000 emissions.

Question 14

Advantages Cap and Trade

Answer 14

more robust - therefore more credible
longer term solutions (as gov change all the time)
decoupling who undertakes the abatement and who pays for it