Quiz #2 GLOBL 161
climate politics under Clinton
1993: the incoming clinton administration pledges to work with other countries towards binding emission reduction targets 1993: Energy tax initiative fails Raise tax revenues for deficit reduction Taxing an environmentally harmful product 1997: the US signed Kyoto Protocol and commits to reducing emissions by 7% below 1990
what is the take-away from COP26
COP26 failed to lock in the commitments necessary to stay below 1.5 degrees C
what is the take away from COP27
COP27 hadno advances on 2030 goals and phase-out fossil fules, but agreement in principle on a Loss and Damage fund
what key ways does GEF financing support CBD objectives?
GEF has provided $3.4 billion in grants to 618 projects, matched by $12 billion in co-financing, to help almost 2.8 million square kilometers of the world's non marine ecosystems GEF has supported 1,292 non-marine protected areas (PAs) in 137 subsystem level in 57 countries Designed to leverage domestic and private sector financing Focal point support, institutional support for weak environment ministries Financing of national reporting and program development
what does the paris climate agreement commit countries to do?
Global warming ceiling: it sets out to hold "the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C; Zero emissions deadline: specifies a long-term objective "to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gasses in the second half of this century (this would mean that global net emissions need to reach zero by 2060-2080); 5 year cycle for updating NDCs: the agreement commits countries to "formulate and communicate long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies" and to update actions every 5 years, while each successive step has to be at least strong as the current one
NYT What's in the Democrats' climate and health bill
Outlines the main provisions of the democrats' climate and health bill, also known as the build back better act. The article argues that the bill represents an ambitious effort to address the interrelated and urgent issues of climate change and public health.
what are NDCs?
nationally determined contributions: setting global emissions reduction and warming targets
how much has the world warmed since pre-industrial times?
the planet's average surface temperature has rien about 1.6 degrees F since the late 19th century, a change driven by increased CO2 and other human-made emissions
What is CITES and what does it do?
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora--bans international trade of body parts of endangered species
what is missing from the Paris climate agreement?
Abandons the idea of fair and equitable burden sharing among countries based on the "common but differentiated responsibility" principle adopted in the framework Convention on CLimate Change in 1992; No legally binding emission targets; No additional details on financial support; No liability provision on financial compensation for loss and damage; No change in basic policy premises
climate politics under trump
After 8 years of obama administration trying to push climate action with executive orders, trump wins the election running on a "bring back coal" message; March 28, 2017: trump signs executive order to roll back Obama's climate policy; Withdrew from the paris agreement; Ceased US contributions to international climate funds that help assist developing countries; Directed the EPA to roll back Obama executive orders on: Clean power plants, Car fuel efficiency standards, Methane leak regulations for fracking operations
In what ways is biodiversity valuable
Agricultural production Medicinal use Natural resources: construction, energy Ecosystem services
how does the loss of global biodiversity differ from other global environmental problems?
As a policy issue, nature conservation misses one critical ingredient other environmental problems have: the loss of individual species does not pose a perceivable threat to human health, life or well-being
which continent has the highest CO2 emissions?
Asia at about 18 Gt
which country is the biggest emitter in aggregate terms?
China rising above 10 Gt
climate politics under joe biden
Climate pledges: Net-zero emissions no later than 2050, By 2030, cut emissions by half over 2005, Make the US power sector climate neutral by 2035 Jan 25 2021, Biden signed a sweeping climate action package: 21 federal agencies will be part of a new climate oversight body situated in the white house, Science will be central in decision making again, agencies are directed to project costs of climate change to show benefits of emissions reduction initiative, Pathway to ban oil and gas drilling, Protect a third of america's land, Move away from the combustion engine towards battery-powered, A civilian climate corps
What does the 1992 CBD require countries to do specifically (and what does it not legally commit countries to do)?
Commits countries to develop national strategies, facilitate access to genetic resources, and sharing results of research and development in a fair and equitable way Additionally commits countries to grant access to technology subject to patents and other intellectual property rights, provide new and additional financial resources to meet the agreed full incremental costs
How does the EU compare to the US in terms of its climate commitments?
EU is the leader on climate change policy while the US is the only major developed country with no integrated energy, environment, and climate policy approach
what are earth system tipping points?
In climate science, a tipping point is a critical threshold that, when crossed, leads to large and often irreversible changes in the climate system. If tipping points are crossed, they are likely to have severe impacts on human society
what does IPCC stand for, what does it do?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, main purpose is to provide objective and scientific information to policy makers and the public about the risks and impacts of climate change as wekk as options for adaptation and mitigation
climate politics under Obama
June 2, 2014 Executive Order: the EPA's administrator Gina McCarthy announces new carbon emission rules for power plants. States must cut emissions by 30% from 2005 levels by 2030
in what aspects do the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris agreement differ?
Legal binding: the kyoto protocol is a legally binding agreement, while the paris agreement is not. This means that the kyoto protocol has mandatory targets for emissions reduction while the paris agreement has voluntary targets; Coverage of greenhouse gases: kyoto protocol only covered 6 GHG while the Paris agreement covers all GHG, including methane and nitrous oxide; Coverage of countries: the kyoto protocol only covered developed countries, while the paris agreement covers both developed and developing countries; Emissions reduction targets: the kyoto protocol had specific emissions reduction targets for each participating country, while the paris agreement allows each country to set its own targets; Long-term goals: the paris agreement has a long-term goal of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees celsius. The kyoto protocol did not have a long-term goal
Mark Hollisdon news article
Main argument is that business has recognized the importance of biodiversity conservation for its own sustainability and profitability and has therefore become a key actor in advocating for and promoting
Barbier, Natural Capital
Main argument is that by recognizing natural capital as a form of capital it can be properly valued and managed, leading to more sustainable use of natural resources and better environmental outcomes. Barbier contends that natural capital should be viewed not only in terms of its economic benefits but also its ecological and social benefits
The Guardian news article
Main argument is that the negotiations for the framework were a tumultuous and challenging process, but resulted in an ambitious set of goals and targets that have the potential to make a significant impact on global biodiversity conservation. The article suggests that the negotiations were characterized by a mic of drama, dismay, and triumph, as negotiators struggled to reach consensus on a wide range of issues
Campbell et al. poducing targets for conservation
Main argument of the article is that conservation targets should be based on ecological evidence, including information about the distribution, diversity, and ecological functions of species and ecosystems. The authors suggest that by using a systematic, evidence-based approach to setting conservation targets, it is more likely that conservation efforts will be effective in preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services
Dickinson, Global Plastic Crisis
Main argument of the article is that plastic waste has become a major environmental and health problem around the world, with devastating impacts on wildlife, ecosystems, and human health. The article suggests that the root of this problem lies in the overuse and overproduction of plastic, as well as the lack of effective systems for managing and disposing of plastic waste
California SB100
Mandate the state to receive all electrical power from renewable energy by 2045. Would accelerate the states goal of reaching 50% renewable energy
climate politics under bush
March 2001: President Bush announces that the US will step away from the Kyoto Protocol Introduce Energy Plan to expand coal use and nuclear power (no more subsidies for renewables). The bill however never made it through congress but executive action by president bush stopped any previous efforts to control greenhouse gasses Was the fossil fuel industry, many cabinet members came straight out of industry positions
what are ecosystem services
Protection of water resources Soil formation Nutrient storage Break down and absorb pollution Flood control and climate stability
GLobal warming solutions act (AB32) California
Requires a reduction of california's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (adopting the kyoto base year), specifying a combination of direct regulations on greenhouse gasses and cap and trade program; Imposes only a modest price on carbon; Many emissions reductions have resulted from earlier laws and growth in high tech, low-emissions and decline of high-emissions industries; Much of the emission reductions are a result of the economic recession of 2008; Researchers say that california would meet its reduction target without emissions trading
what was the outcome of the Kunming biodiversity COP15
Resulted in the adoption of the kunming declaration, which outlines the need to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030 as well as the adoption of the post-2020 globaal biodiversity framework. The framework sets 21 targets which aim to address biodiversity loss. Goal A conservation and restoration: integrity, connectivity and resilience of all ecosystems are maintained enhanced or restored Goal B sustainable use: biodiversity is sustainably used and managed Goal C: genetic resources benefit-sharing: genetic resources, and digital sequence information on genetic resources, and of traditional knowledge are shared fairly and equitably
examples of different ecoregions
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Mangroves Flooded grasslands and savannas Boreal forests/taiga Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
Rogers, Value of Nature
The main argument of the essay is that we need to recognize the intrinsic value of nature, that is its inherent value as an entity in itself, rather than just its value to humans. Rogers argues that this recognition is necessary to overcome the current tendency to view nature primarily in terms of its instrumental value, that is, its value as a means to achieve human ends
what happened tot he 2009 climate bill in the US Congress?
The waxman markey climate change bill passed the house energy and commerce committee including emissions reduction targets and a tax-and-trade provision to reach them. The bill would have required a 17% emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2020; and electric utilities to meet 20% of their electricity demand through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020. By May 2010 the climate and energy stalled in the US senate. Any chance to pass the bill died with the midterm elections in NOV 2010 that brought the republicans in control of the house
which country is the biggest emitter per capita?
USA at 14.2 tons per person in 2020
Broad US emissions trend since 1992
We have been emitting above 5,000 MMT of CO2 every eyar since 1992; emissions roared back by 6.2% in 2021
greenhouse gas emissions can be presented in different ways that often serve a political purpose:
absolute aggregate national emissions, national per capita emissions, emission intensity: how much emissions are released while producing one unit of gross domestic product (GDP), historic emissions (cumulative trajectory based on economic development scenarios), emissions growth rates, sectoral emissions: forestry, agriculture, industry, power, transport, heating cooling subsistence, luxury), emissions from human activity, emissions from land-use and land-use change
to what extent have the 20 aichi targets of 2010 been achieve
all have failed except for one
what was the concentration of CO2 during pre-industrial time?
around 280 ppm
what is the current approximate level of CO2 concentration in the earth's atmosphere in parts per million (ppm)?
around 410 ppm
US energy policy rational and the dominant social paradigm
cheap energy is essential for economic growth and human well-being; reducing dependence on fossil fuels too fast is expensive and unnecessary, it would put the american way of life at risk
what are the 3 key objectives set out in the convention on biodiversity
conservation, sustainable use, and sharing of the benefits
why are NDCs difficult to compare?
different base years; different target years; different reduction targets; no comparative reference framework
how is climate change a two-level collective action problem?
domestic level differences between individuals (government intervention possible), and international level differences among countries (no enforcing authority)
new conservationist thinking
dynamic management: a rapidly changing world demands a more realistic approach that recognizes human influence as given, and the natural world as a dynamic system impacted rapid by climate change
3 examples of animals listed in CITES Appendix 1 or 2
elephants, lions, mako sharks, sea cucumbers, vaquitas, pangolins
what are the impacts of global warming?
inundation and contamination of fresh water resources in coastal zones, extreme weather events, shifts in climate patterns that affect ecosystems, agricultural production, and water availability, stress to ecosystems, spread of tropical diseases, socio-economic impacts
what is the global carbon budget and how does it relate to the emissions gap idea and what does it tell us?
it determines the input of CO2 to the atmosphere by emissions from human activities, balanced by output (storage) in the carbon reservoirs on land or in the ocean. The emissions gap idea is related to the global carbon budget in that it refers to the difference between the emissions reduction commitments made by countries under the UNFCCC and the emissions reductions necessary to stay within the global carbon budget and limit global warming to a specific target.
what does the paris agreement consider a safe level of future warming over pre-industrial times as confirmed by the glasgow conference in 2021 (paris goal)?
limits global warming to 1.5 degrees C
what are central political issues that remain difficult to resolve
no commitments to protect specific territories; no list of biodiversity "hot spots"; no commitment for a specific amount of funding for biodiversity conservation (and no needs assemssment); no legal provisions for benefit sharing related to the use of biogenetic resources
What is REDD+? How does it work? What are some challenges?
reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. generating "emissions credits" in poor developing countries to be sold to developed countries is one model to generate such financing
what are emission offsets, give 2 examples
reduction in GHG emissions that is used to compensate for emissions that occur elsewhere. examples: forestry- tree planting projects restore areas facing deforestation. trees absorb and hold carbon, without them that carbon would be in the atmosphere, making global warming worse. renewable energy- these projects replace fossil fuel use with clean, renewable energy, such as that generated from a wind farm
what mostly accounts for a reduction in US emissions from coal
replacing it with natural gas
what is "benefit sharing" under the CBD
sharing results of research and development "as appropriate" in a fair and equitable way
traditional thinking
static: conserve what is there, fight any conservasion of land and decline of species
different conservation approaches
traditional thinking and new conservationanist thinking
