Climate Change and the Question of Responsibility

"I ask of all of us here: If not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?"
-Naradev Sano (Philippines) -COP18 Climate Talks (2013)

Table of Contents
1) Introduction 5
2) The urgency of climate change 6
3) The Responsibility of the Petroleum Industry 7
How could it be argued that the petroleum industry holds responsibility? 7
Why should the petroleum industry not be held responsible? 7
What actions is the petroleum industry taking to avert climate change? 8
Cogeneration 8
Flare and venting reduction 8
Natural Gas 9
4) The Responsibility of the State 10
Why could it be argued the state carries responsibility for climate change? 10
What of the inequity between states? 11
What actions are states taking to avert climate change? 11
The Kyoto Protocol 11
The example of Denmark – wind energy 12
The example of Germany – solar energy 14
The example of Iceland – Geothermal energy 15
An evaluation of the state’s responsibility 16
5) The Responsibility of the Consumer 17
Why could it be argued that consumers are responsible for climate change? 17
What actions are consumers taking to avert climate change? 17
Saving energy 17
Using energy efficiently 18
Renewable energy sources 18
6) Responsibility on a broader level: The Economy and Globalization 20
How has the economic system catalysed climate change? 20
How has globalization catalysed climate change? 20
7) Conclusions 22
Conceptual Model 22
Literature List 24
The Urgency of Climate Change 24
The Responsibility of the Petroleum Industry 24
The Responsibility of the State 25
The Responsibility of the Consumer 26
Other 26

1) Introduction
With the forces of globalization working together to create a world in which time and space are compressed, we see an ever increasing interdependence and interconnection between peoples. These two factors are increasingly prevalent in almost every aspect of human activity: from the socioeconomic to the technological and the spread and development