Climate Change Politics
Climate Change Politics – Notes
Kyoto Protocol – * December 1997 * Signed by 168 countries * First internationally legal binding target for the reduction of green house gas emissions * Target – cut green house gases by 12.5% based on the 1990 levels by 2012 * Emphasis on developed countries- developing nations, ie China and India – exempt from cuts * This protocol not enforced until 2005 * Largest undermining factor – USA failed to ratify the protocol * KEY as USA is responsible for a quarter of all green house gas emissions * Why – influence of political individuals. Clinton argued that the lack of emphasis on the role of developing countries on the issue of climate change would mean the senate would not ratify the protocol. * George W. Bush – climate change skeptic – questioned influence of humans on climate change – and so issue not addressed. * Obama – encouraged positive action towards tackling climate change – but little done. Only arrived to Copenhagen Summit on last day – and created a weak accord with only a few countries
The Bali Road Map – * Known as the long term co operative action under the convention * Took place 2007 * Clear agenda of key issues to be negotiated up to 2009 * These issues included:
Action for adapting to the negative consequences of climate change, such as droughts and floods
Ways to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions
Ways to widely deploy climate-friendly technologies and financing both adaptation and mitigation measures. Adaptation Fund. The fund will help developing countries cope with the impact of climate change, which includes flooding, droughts, heat waves and rises in sea level. It will be financed by the Clean Development Mechanism. It was agreed that adaptation should equal mitigation as a priority.
Break down of the “Berlin wall” between developing countries and developed countries, which means that developing countries need to do their share of
Kyoto Protocol – * December 1997 * Signed by 168 countries * First internationally legal binding target for the reduction of green house gas emissions * Target – cut green house gases by 12.5% based on the 1990 levels by 2012 * Emphasis on developed countries- developing nations, ie China and India – exempt from cuts * This protocol not enforced until 2005 * Largest undermining factor – USA failed to ratify the protocol * KEY as USA is responsible for a quarter of all green house gas emissions * Why – influence of political individuals. Clinton argued that the lack of emphasis on the role of developing countries on the issue of climate change would mean the senate would not ratify the protocol. * George W. Bush – climate change skeptic – questioned influence of humans on climate change – and so issue not addressed. * Obama – encouraged positive action towards tackling climate change – but little done. Only arrived to Copenhagen Summit on last day – and created a weak accord with only a few countries
The Bali Road Map – * Known as the long term co operative action under the convention * Took place 2007 * Clear agenda of key issues to be negotiated up to 2009 * These issues included:
Action for adapting to the negative consequences of climate change, such as droughts and floods
Ways to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions
Ways to widely deploy climate-friendly technologies and financing both adaptation and mitigation measures. Adaptation Fund. The fund will help developing countries cope with the impact of climate change, which includes flooding, droughts, heat waves and rises in sea level. It will be financed by the Clean Development Mechanism. It was agreed that adaptation should equal mitigation as a priority.
Break down of the “Berlin wall” between developing countries and developed countries, which means that developing countries need to do their share of