Transcript Paris Climate Conference

Paris Climate
Conference
Dr. William McPherson
What Are These People
Protesting?
ENB Vol. 12 No. 647 - Bonn Climate Change
Conference - October 2015
How Do INDCs Add Up?
What about 2C?
…compared to unchecked global warming, keeping the
temperature rise below 2C would reduce
 heatwaves by 89%,
 flooding by 76%,
 cropland decline by 41% and
 water stress by 26%.
Source: Guardian, November 9, 2015
History
 1972: United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment. UNEP Established
 1988: IPCC founded by UNEP and WMO
 1992: Rio Summit (UNCED): UNFCCC signed (GHW
Bush) and Ratified Unanimously by U.S. Senate
 1997: Kyoto Protocol (Entered into force in 2005)
 2010: Cancun Agreement: 2C
 2011: Durban Program: Post 2020 Commitments
What Do They Talk About?
ENB Vol. 12 No. 647 - Bonn Climate Change Conference
- October 2015
Bonn, Germany
Draft agreement and draft decision on workstreams 1 and 2 of the Ad Hoc
Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action
Draft Agreement
http://unfccc.int/files/bodies/application/pdf/[email protected]
Work of the ADP contact group
Version of 23 October 2015@23:30hrs1
A.
DRAFT AGREEMENT
[The Parties to this Agreement,
Pp1
Being Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, hereinafter referred to as
"the Convention",
Pp2
In furtherance][pursuit] of the objective, [principles and provisions] of the Convention [as set out in
Articles 2, 3 and 4], [including the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities^ and
respective capabilities in light of different national circumstances,]]
Pp3
Recalling decisions 1/CP.17, 2/CP.18, 1/CP.19, and 1/CP 20,
Pp4
[Taking account of the [particular vulnerabilities and specific needs of][particularly vulnerable][urgent and
immediate needs and special circumstances of] developing country Parties, especially [those that are
particularly vulnerable, including] the least developed country (LDC) Parties[ and other Parties identified
in Article 4.8 of the Convention], small island developing states (SIDS) [, small mountainous developing
states] and Africa, [and the central American isthmus]][Taking full account of the specific needs and
special situations of the least developed countries and small island developing states arising from the
adverse impacts of climate change],
Pp5
[Recognizing the intrinsic relationship between climate change, poverty eradication and sustainable
development and reaffirming that the response to climate change should be coordinated with social and
economic development [in an integrated manner ]with a view to avoiding adverse impacts [of response
measures on the latter], taking into full account the legitimate priority [needs] of developing countries and
their rights to equitable access to sustainable development for the achievement of sustained economic
growth and the eradication of poverty,] [recognizing the importance of promoting social and economic
development in harmony with nature as the fundamental requirement to address climate change,]],
What is Necessary?
Source: Rockström, Johan; Klum, Mattias, 2015. Big World, Small
Planet. Yale University Press. Kindle Edition.
How Will They Do It?
Source: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/cop21/eng/07.pdf
Key Issues
 INDCs: Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.
80% of world emissions have been accounted for.
 CBDR: Common But Differentiated Responsibilities.
Developing countries want “more.”
 Finance: $100 Billion. “Additionality” means more.
 Loss and Damage: Liability. Will this be in the
agreement?
Why is Finance an Issue?
What do Critics Say?
 …130 developing nations – “led by South Africa and instigated by
China and India” – are insisting they will not sign a climate deal in
Paris unless it contains massive redistribution of wealth from
developed to poor nations.
 “Whatever they call it, countries who sign onto this agreement will
be voting to expand the reach of the U.N. climate bureaucracy,
cede national sovereignty, and create a one-way street along
which billions will be redistributed from developed to poor nations.”
 “Now they want the power to haul the U.S. and its allies before a
U.N. Star Chamber to enforce compliance.”
Source: Craig Rucker,
executive director and co-founder of CFACT.
U.S. Commitments
The United States intends to achieve an
economy-wide target of reducing its
emissions by 26%-28% below its 2005
level in 2025 and to make best efforts to
reduce its emissions by 28%.
whitehouse.gov, November 12, 2014
How Will We Do It?
Source: EPA.gov
What Will Replace Coal?
What Do U.S. Politicians Say?
Ted Cruz
Today, the global warming alarmists are the
equivalent of the flat-Earthers. It used to be [that]
it is accepted scientific wisdom the Earth is flat,
and this heretic named Galileo was branded a
denier.” Washington Post, March 25, 2015.
What did Galileo deny?
Mitch McConnell
Source: LA Times
McConnell on Paris Agreement
“Even if the job-killing and likely illegal Clean Power Plan
were fully implemented, the United States could not meet
the targets laid out in this proposed new plan. Considering
that two-thirds of the U.S. federal government hasn’t even
signed off on the Clean Power Plan and 13 [now 30]
states have already pledged to fight it, our international
partners should proceed with caution before entering into
a binding, unattainable deal.” Press release, March 31, 2015,
mcconnell.senate.gov/public/.
How About Washington?
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm
What Law is the Governor
Using?
 The state shall limit emissions of greenhouse gases to achieve the
following emission reductions for Washington state:
(i) By 2020, reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in
the state to 1990 levels;
(ii) By 2035, reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in
the state to twenty-five percent below 1990 levels;
(iii) By 2050, the state will do its part to reach global climate
stabilization levels by reducing overall emissions to fifty percent
below 1990 levels, or seventy percent below the state's expected
emissions that year.
 RCW 70.235.020
What Will We Do?
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm
What organizations would
be covered under this rule?
Carbon pollution from the combustion of fuels and natural gas would be covered as well
large industrial facilities. Examples of types of businesses and organizations include:

Natural gas distributors

Petroleum fuel producers

Factories

Power plants

Waste facilities

Metal manufacturers

This initial list may change as the scope of the rule is refined through consultation with
industries, stakeholders, the general public, and relevant agencies.
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm
Who is Against the Rule?
Dear Senator Ericksen:
 By letter previously acknowledged, you have requested our opinion on three
questions on … RCW 70.235.020:

The statute imposes no specific requirement on the legislature to create a
program, and, in any event, the legislature generally cannot pass legislation
that binds a future legislature.
 The statute does not create an express or implied cause of action for requiring
the state to enforce the emission reductions, and a writ of mandamus would
not be available to enforce the emission reductions because those reductions
are not a ministerial duty of any specific state official.
 The statute does not create an express or implied cause of action for
damages against the state should the emission reductions in RCW
70.235.020 not be reached.
Source: Attorney General Bob Ferguson, 9/1/15
What Can We Do?
 Follow the news: https://news.google.com/news/,
http://www.iisd.ca/climate/unfccc/adp2-11/,
 Follow the money: http://www.desmogblog.com/,
insideclimatenews.org, realclimate.org
 Follow the leaders: Bill McKibben, James Hansen, Joe
Romm, Kevin Trenberth, Michael Mann; Groups such
as Climate Conversations North Central Washington
 Get Involved!