http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGf8XyE7dYc
CLIMATE CHANGE
Kelly Thomas, Jessica Gajda, Hilary Bullis
THESIS
The United States federal government, in
comparison to the European Union, has
taken less initiative to combat climate
change, rather the responsibility has fallen
into the hands of non-state actors to
coordinate state and city efforts.
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/climate/video
How will this effect YOU?
Reduced productivity of resources
Damage to human-built environments
Risk to health and life
Damage/ to “less managed resources”
ex: wilderness & biodiversity
This is a GPG issue, not just
TRANSnational!
• Climate Change is the exemplary Global Public
Good (GPG)
• Each country’s emissions of greenhouse gases
contribute cumulatively to the increase of the
overall concentration, and each country’s
abatements entail higher cost than benefit, unless
effective concerted collective action take place
• Unfortunately there are weak political & economic
instruments for entering a climate agreement and
for attaining & maintaining its goals
• The ongoing best known -and highly questionedattempt to address climate change in the Kyoto
Protocol…
Kyoto Protocol Overview
• Is an amendment to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed
in Dec. 1997
• Entered into force in 2005, 170 countries have
ratified it as of 2007.
• Requires 35 developed , Annex I, countries to
reduce GHG emissions specified for them.
• As of January 2008, and running through 2012,
Annex I countries have to reduce their greenhouse
gas emissions by a collective average of 5% below
their 1990 levels.
Details of the Agreement
• Common but differentiated responsibility
– Developed vs. developing countries
• Financial Commitments
• Carbon Emissions Trading
• Enforcement of the Protocol
– Non-compliance: Countries need to make up
the difference plus 30%, Suspension from
Trading Markets
United States position on Kyoto
• Signed the protocol, but has not ratified nor
has withdrawn from it.
• Why President G.W. Bush will not Ratify:
– Exemption of China and India.
– Unrealistic Expectations.
– Economic Reasons
– Uncertainty of the Long Term Effects
Kyoto Continued
Support & Success
• 175 parties, countries and political entities (EU) have
ratified the treaties.
• Allowed for the Emergence of Carbon Markets
• Elimination of Coal and emergence of Alternative Energy
sources.
• Set a precedent for action on climate change on National
and International levels.
Opposition & Failures
• Largest emitter of GHG, the US, has not ratified.
• Other large emitters do not fall under the Annex I category.
– China, India are exempt
• Short time frame doesn’t allow for much long term effects.
Post-Kyoto: What happens next?
• February 2007 Washington Conference
–Agreement in principle to a global
cap-and-trade system for
industrialized nations AND
developing countries.
• August 2007 Vienna Talks
• 2007 United Nations Climate Change
Conference
European response to Kyoto
• May, 2000: Launch of
the European Climate
Change Programme
(ECCP)
– Phase I: 2000-2001
– Phase II: 2002-2003
• ECCP II: 2005present
The Carbon Market
• European Union Emissions
Trading Scheme (EU ETS)
– commenced Jan. 1, 2005 (entered
into force Oct. 23, 2003)
• 1st mandatory int’l trading
system for GHG emissions
• http://youtube.com/watch
?v=y7veRksc_Yk
• Jan. 2008: proposed changes
to scheme by EC
– Centralized allocation of
shares
– Include other GHGs: nitrous
oxide and perfluorocarbons
•
EU Emissions trading 2005-2012
Post 2012
• Integrated Climate Action and Renewable
Energy Package
– Jan. 2008
• 20-20 by 2020
– Increase to 30% if other industrialized and
developing countries take similar action
• “You Control Climate Change” Campaign,
2006
– http://youtube.com/watch?v=R5CeQCALESw
UNITED STATES Climate Action
• The US Federal Government does not currently
regulate CO2 domestically and the EPA has not
promulgated emission limits for CO2
Congressional Activity
• The US Congress plays a key role in determining
how the US responds to the challenge of global
climate change
• Legislation enacted by Congress will be necessary
to reduce US GHG emissions substantially
• In Congress, 2003, the U.S. Senate for the first time
voted on legislation that would cap US greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions
 Energy Policy Act
Renewable energy & energy efficiency
Power plant emissions
Automotive fuel efficiency
 Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-trade
At the STATE level
• Governments are enacting mandatory carbon
controls and other programs that reduce GHG
emissions
• In the business community, where governments
are enacting mandatory carbon controls and other
programs that reduce GHG emissions
• Plans, Targets, and Standards
NGO’s and the United States
 What they are doing:
 Lobbying governments
 Working with local government
 Promoting efficiency and renewable energy
 Energy access for the poor
 Adaptation to climate change
 NGOs are well-experienced in basic approaches
 events, market stalls, community meetings and exhibitions
 Examples: WWF, Greenpeace, USCAN, Campaign Earth,
Global Green, US Climate Network, Sierra Club
Applicable IR theories:
Approach
Key
Concept
Hypothesis on int’l
cooperation on
GCC
Evaluation of
GCC Policy
Realism
Power
and
interests
Major powers
determine the int’l
rules of GCC
regulation
Major powers
successfully
blocked GHG rules
Neoliberalinstitutionalism
Institutional
factors
Int’l regime on GCC
will emerge & assist
the strengthening of
int’l rules of
regulations
No univocal effects
of int’l institutions
on strengthening
GHG reduction
rules
Cognitivism
Epistemic
community
Experts with access
to decision-makers
strongly influence int’l
rules
Hypothesis
supported at the
stage of concluding
int’l rules of GHG
reduction
So what can YOU do? GO GREEN!
 At home: Change lights to ENERGY STAR and you will help the
environment while saving money. Heat & cool smartly. Seal and
insulate your home. Use Green Power environmentally friendly
electricity. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Use water efficiently. Spread
the world.
 On the Road: Buy Smart-EPA?s Fuel Economy Guide & Green Vehicle
Guide. Drive Smart. Tune your ride-grade of oil, air filter, maintenance.
Check your Tires. Give your car a break-public transportation, carpool,
walk or bike. Use Renewable Fuels.
 At the Office: manage office equipment energy use better. Look for
ENERGY STAR qualified products for the Office. Use less energy for
your commute. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
 At School: Get involved on campus-reduce energy used in dorm rooms,
work with administrators to increase energy efficiency, use Green
Power, create a campus climate action plan, and develop an inventory
of the university’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Works Cited:
•
•
•
•
European Union Website
– http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm
Climate Action Network- Europe
– http://www.climnet.org/euenergy/ET/072007NGO_EUETSreview_submi
ssion.pdf
Climate change: The Global Public Good
– http://dipeco.economia.unimib.it/pdf/pubblicazioni/wp75_04.pdf
“President Bush Discusses Climate Change” Whitehouse Press.
–
•
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010611-2.html\
UNFCCC – Kyoto Protocol
–
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php
“WE CAN DO IT” THIS EARTH DAY!
Tuesday April 22, 2008!