Transcript Why the Kyoto Protocol

EM410 Unit 6
Global Climate Change Policy
Philosophy,
Structure,
Methods, and Challenges
Are
we making
progress?
M. Eileen O’Hara, Ph.D.
Assignments & Late Policy Reminders
ANY QUESTIONS?
 If you haven’t submitted the Unit 3 Assignment, you have
until tomorrow, Tuesday, April 10th to submit
 If you haven’t submitted the Unit 5 Midterm Project, you
have until Tuesday, April 24th to submit
 Upcoming Mock Environmental Summit and Final Project
Overview for Tonight
 Review the Unit 6 Outcomes
 Review the phases of global climate change regime as
presented in the text
 Discuss the opposing views on climate change
 First look at the Unit 9 assignment.
 Questions regarding the Mock Summit
Unit 6 Outcomes
 The primary events underlying the development of the
global climate change
 The relative effectiveness and significance of the
global climate change regime
 Some differing perspectives on the global climate
change issue
 Future challenges facing the international community
regarding climate change issues
Agenda Setting – The Science
Vig, N.J., Axelrod, R.S., & Downie, D.L. (2004). The global environment: Institutions, law, and policy (2nd ed.).
Washington, DC: CQ Press. Page 104
What is the IPCC?
 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
o Created by UNEP and WMO
 Synthesize and assess the state of scientific
knowledge on climate change and evaluate responses
o They do not do their own research
 Generally viewed as “the” authority on climate change
 Set up as three working groups
o I – Focused on the Science of climate change
o II – Assess issues related to the impacts, vulnerability, and
adaptation to climate change
o III – Reviews options for mitigating climate change
Foundation for the Regime
 Regime is focused on the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the
Kyoto Protocol
 The UNFCCC gives the structure within which the
efforts to address the problem will take place
 The Kyoto Protocol outlines specific obligations that
are consistent with the guiding principles of the
UNFCCC
 More than190 countries involved + 100s of NGOs
o State formed 6 distinct “negotiating blocks” (Table 6.2)
o NGOs formed “observer constituencies” (Table 6.3)
Negotiating Blocks
EU
Supports
targets with
concerns about
economic
impacts
Supports
targets and
timeline
JUSCANZ
/JUSSCAN
NZ
G-77 &
China
Umbrella
Group
Supports
market-based
incentives to
achieve targets
AOSIS
OPEC
Opposes
targets and
timeline
Signing of the UNFCCC
 One of 2 major treaties at the Earth Summit in Rio
o Entered into force in March 1994; ratified by over 185 countries
 Key elements include:
o Objective
o Principles
o Commitments
o Creation of an organizational structure
UNFCCC Objectives
 “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame
sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to
climate change, to ensure that food production is not
threatened and to enable economic development to
pro- ceed in a sustainable manner.”
UNFCCC Principles
 Principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility
 Equity should be a guiding principle
o What does this mean? Per capita standards? What would this
mean?
 Embraces the Precautionary Principle
 Measure taken should be cost-effective and promote
sustainable development
UNFCCC Commitments
 Annex I parties (industrialized countries and formerly
communist countries with economics in transition) are
obligated to:
o Return individually or jointly to their 1990 levels of emissions
No timetable but hints of 2000
o Provide new and additional financial resources and technology
to developing countries so they can meet their commitments
 All parties must regularly report on their national
emissions inventories and mitigation programs
UNFCCC Organizational Structure
 Established the Conference of Parties (COP)
o Assigned to review the UNFCCC to make recommendations
on its effective implementation
o Usually meets annually
 Subsidiary bodies (meet twice per year)
o Scientific and Technological Advice
o Implementation
 The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was the interim
funding mechanism
 What about funding scares the developing countries?
Timeline of Negotiations of the UNFCCC
Negotiation phase:
1991–1992
1994
1995-1997
1996
1998–2001
2001
2004
• UNFCCC negotiations
• UNFCCC enters into force
• Kyoto Protocol negotiations on
commitments
• IPCC Second Assessment
Report
• Kyoto Protocol negotiations on
operationalization
• IPCC Third Assessment Report
• United States withdraws from
Kyoto Protocol
• Kyoto Protocol’s entry into force
contingent upon Russian ratification
Vig, N.J., Axelrod, R.S., & Downie, D.L. (2004). The global environment: Institutions, law, and
policy (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: CQ Press. Page 104
Why the Kyoto Protocol
 The first COP meeting the parties realized that the
UNFCCC needed timetables and binding targets past
2000
 COP-3 was held in Kyoto, Japan and the Kyoto
Protocol was born
 Requires reductions to reach 5.2% below 1990 levels
over the period 2008-2012
Central Elements to Kyoto
 The UNFCCC provided the framework for the regime
and the protocol gave mechanism for an overall
objective.
 Central elements include:
o Commitments
o Rules on flexible mechanisms
o Compliance
o Creation of new organizations
Commitments of Kyoto
 5% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012
 Each country has their own target (differentiated)
o Seen as political with no scientific basis
 Some countries with “economies in transition” were
allowed to pick another baseline year
Flexible Mechanisms of Kyoto
 Emissions trading
o Purchase emission credits
 Joint implementation
o Invest in reduction activities in other countries (industrialized to
industrialized)
 Clean Development Mechanism
o Industrialized countries can invest in reduction activities in
developing countries for certified emission reductions
Compliance Mechanisms of Kyoto
 Parties found to not be in compliance will be ineligible
for flexible mechanisms
 If a party fails to make their reductions in the first
commitment period they can make up the difference in
the second period but with a 30% penalty
Organizational Structure of Kyoto
 The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
o Kyoto set up an executive board to accredit entities to
participate in CDM projects
 Increase in funds to the GEF and create three new
funds
o Special Climate Change Fund
o Least-Developed Country Fund
o Adaption Fund
Operational Phase of the UNFCCC
Operationalization phase:
2008 -2012
• First commitment period under the Kyoto
Protocol
Vig, N.J., Axelrod, R.S., & Downie, D.L. (2004). The global environment: Institutions, law, and
policy (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: CQ Press. Page 104
Any questions so far?
Question #1
What are some of the
mainstream arguments against
human caused global climate
change?
Question #2
What are some of the
challenges that arose with the
Kyoto Protocol that have
hindered implementation?
Question #3
Is it important to know what %
of climate change is due to
human economic activity
before we take action?
Final Paper – A first look (250 points!)
 Pick an environmental issue of global importance
 Critique one or two national policies on the issue and make
recommendations on how they could be altered to improve
the issue
 Relate an economic trend to the issue and explain the
impacts to your problem (be specific)
 Summarize the ethical arguments on both sides of the issue
and select and defend one.
 8-12 pages APA format
 Use the rubrics!
Mock Environmental Summit Assignment
 Use links on the right side bar of main Wiki page
 Ministers use their minister page – team members can
edit and contribute to all pages!
 Delegates will summarize on the main group page –
team members can edit and contribute!
 The Ministers’ Wiki pages need to be completed by the
Unit 7 Seminar!
 In Unit 7 Seminar we’ll break out into groups in the
Chat Room to discuss your country’s overall position.
Then you can go back and edit your pages if needed.
Mock Environmental Summit Assignment
 After the Unit 7 Seminar, the climate change delegates
should have the information they need to prepare a
well articulated position on the issues. What would
your country agree to and why?
 The Team summary Wiki’s need to be to me by Friday
night of Unit 8 so I can prepare for the Unit 8 seminar.
 Your team’s position will summarized by me and we
will hold a discussion in the Unit 8 Seminar.
 A final vote will be taken on an aggregate proposal at
the end of the Unit 8 Seminar - your vote counts!
Advice and Clarifications
 Review the assignment instruction in class
 REVIEW THE INSTRUCTIONS!
 Ponder the impacts that emissions have on your area, and
then contemplate how reductions could be laid out to benefit
your interests and what the impacts are
 What reduction plan would you advocate and why?
 The positions should be supported and not just emotional
thoughts or opinions. Your country is counting on you to make
the best decision in their interest
 Your individual Wikis must be submitted to the dropbox as
Word documents by the end of Unit 8 on April 24th.
Any Questions or Comments?
Remember to start on your Mock Environmental Summit!
Ministers must have their 1-2 page wikis done by Unit 7
Seminar. Climate Change Delegates must have the 3-4
page country summary wiki done by Friday, April 20th.
Again, I’d like to thank Matthew Miller for letting me use some of his slides !