Week 5: The climate change regime (lecture + pre-reading)

Question 1

What is environmental governance?

Answer 1

Regulatory processes, norms, rules and instiutions guiding environmental outcomes.

It involves multiple actors, not just governments.

Question 2

What is the core principle of climate governance under the UNFCCC?

Answer 2

Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC):

this means:
Developed countries: More responsibility due to historical emissions.
Developing countries: Focus on sustainable development.

Question 3

When was the UNFCCC established, and what is its primary objective?

Answer 3

• Established in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit
• Its objective is to stabilize GHG concentrations to prevent dangerous anthropogenic climate interference.

Question 4

How are countries grouped under the UNFCCC? (kyoto conference)

Answer 4

Annex I: Developed countries and Economies in Transition (EIT).
Annex II: Developed countries - EIT (have to funding technology transfer and climate action)
Non-Annex I: Developing countries.

Question 5

What are the main mechanisms introduced by the Kyoto Protocol?

Answer 5

• International Emission Trading (IET) (to trade emission allowances)
• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (Credits for investing in emission-reducing projects in developing countries.)
• Joint Implementation (JI). (Credits for projects in other Annex I countries)

Question 6

What were the challenges faced by the Kyoto protocol?

Answer 6

1) top-down approach failed due to changing global dynamics (e.g: chinas rapid growth)
2) Limited participation (e.g., U.S. withdrawal).

Question 7

What are the goals of the Paris Agreement?

Answer 7

1) Limit global warming to well below 2°C, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
2) Use Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to set and revise emission targets every 5 years.

Question 8

What is the Ratchet Mechanism under the Paris Agreement?

Answer 8

A system requiring countries to submit increasingly ambitious NDCs every 5 years to meet global climate goals.

Question 9

1) What is the COP (Conference of the parties) ? and 2) what is its role ?

Answer 9

1) It is the decision-making body under the UNFCCC,
2) reviewing implementation and setting new climate targets.

Question 10

What are the key challenges in climate governance?

Answer 10

1) insufficient climate finance
2) Loss and damage compensation disputes
3) Lack of binding enforcements for commitments
4) Gaps in adaptation funding
5) The reliance on fossil fuels by major economies remains a significant barrier to meaningful climate action.

Question 11

What is the NAZCA platform?

Answer 11

A system to track and showcase climate actions by over 10,000 non-state actors, supporting the goals of the LPAA.

Question 12

What is REDD+?

Answer 12

A framework to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while promoting sustainable forest management.

Question 13

What does “fragmented governance” mean in the context of climate governance?

Answer 13

A system with multiple institutions and mechanisms addressing climate change
+ creating flexibility but also
- potential duplication and
- inefficiency.

Question 14

What is “minilateralism” in climate governance?

Answer 14

Small groups (e.g., G20) tackling climate issues more effectively than global consensus-based approaches.

Question 15

What are the ongoing finance issues in climate governance?

Answer 15

Delayed fulfillment of the $100 billion annual pledge (met in 2022 for the first time, instead of 2020).
A new goal of $300 billion/year by 2035 was negotiated.

Question 16

What does “loss and damage” refer to in climate governance?

Answer 16

compensation for the negative impacts of climate change, especially for developing countries
though it remains a controversial issue

Question 17

Why is the Paris Agreement considered a shift in climate governance?

Answer 17

It moved from a top-down regulatory approach (Kyoto) to a bottom-up, voluntary system of NDCs and ratchet mechanisms.

Question 18

How does transnational governance contribute to climate action?

Answer 18

Through
- city networks (e.g., C40)
- Multi-Stakeholder partnerships (Ren21)
and
- private initiatives (e.g., voluntary carbon markets) fostering innovation and collaboration beyond states.

Question 19

Why are NDCs under the Paris Agreement seen as insufficient?

Answer 19

Current NDCs would result in 2.6–3.1°C warming, falling short of the Agreement’s goals.

Question 20

What are the main criticisms of the UNFCCC’s performance?

Answer 20

1) Slow progress in reducing global GHG emissions.
2) Non-binding nature of agreements.
3) Fragmentation leading to inefficiencies.

Question 21

Why are fossil fuels referred to as “the fossil elephant in the room” in climate governance?

Answer 21

Fossil fuels are the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions, yet were not explicitly addressed in over 30 years of multilateral climate negotiations.