why is there a debate on climate change?

Question 1

what was agreed at COP 26

Answer 1

• countries, will aim to meet 2022 emissions.
• plan to reduce coal, which is responsible for 40% of annual carbon dioxide emissions
• a supposed trillion dollar year fund from 2025

Question 2

what is the emissions trading systems (ETS)

Answer 2

• a system, that provides allocations of the number of caron emission that a given country or business, is able to generate.
• the scheme gives certain countries larger budgets than others, which could create unequal economic growth, between countries.

Question 3

what are the issues with the emissions trading system (ETS)

Answer 3

• credits need to be less widely available and more expensive, to increase the incentive for one reduce carbon emission.
• unfair distribution of carbon credits, means that some countries have bigger budgets than others.
• not all countries are part of the scheme (e.g. China)

Question 4

what are low carbon technologies

Answer 4

• carbon capture and storage technology.
• solar, wind and biomass, can be used for renewable and green energy.
• offering subsides, to people who are using low carbon technologies, to increase the incentive to use them.

Question 5

reduced demand for energy

Answer 5

• use of smart meters
• promoting energy efficiency (e.g. insulation in buildings)
• reduce GHG emissions from transport + agriculture

Question 6

what is carbon taxes

Answer 6

• switch from electricity generate from coal to greener sources.
• 2014, only 10 coal power stations left, that are responsible for 1/5 of Uk emissions.

Question 7

what is set carbon budgets

Answer 7

• e.g. reduction in carbon emissions from 29% in 2013 - 2017.
  to 35% from 2018 - 2020

Question 8

why didn’t India ratify the Kyoto protocol

Answer 8

• like other middle and low income countries, they argued that rich countries, should shoulder the cost of reducing carbon emissions.

Question 9

how did India not ratifying the Kyoto, impact the US not joining the USA.

Answer 9

• due to the USA, viewed, that without the participation of India and China, that the Kyoto protocol, would be pointless.

Question 10

what are India doing in order to limit their emissions

Answer 10

• a national action plan on climate change (20-25%)
• aims to reduce its GHG emissions, as a ratio, of it’s GDP.
• The NAPCC aims to improve energy efficiency and develop renewables especially solar power.

Question 11

what is false balance

Answer 11

false balance, is what occurs, when one tires to treat the opposing, as equally valid, when they are simply not.

Question 12

why does climate change get so little coverage in the USA media?

Answer 12

bad fit for media norms (day to day coverage)

Question 13

what events, have caused a spike in the coverage of climate change in the USA

Answer 13

• an increase in the number of extreme weather, where science is less certain on the cause.

Question 14

why is the quality of coverage so poor? (in the USA)

Answer 14

• complex science, it takes time to explain and understand