Chapter 2 - Political-Legal Perspective Flashcards

Question

International climate policy baseline figures:

Answer 1

* The Framework Convention on Climate Change forms the basis of international climate diplomacy. * In the **Kyoto Protocol**, binding greenhouse gas reduction targets were agreed for the first time under international law. * The **Paris Agreement** aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C and preferably to 1.5°C by the end of this century. * The fight against climate change will continue to require coordinated action by all states. * Climate finance plays a central role in the implementation of climate policy. * The **International Climate Initiative (ICI)** has been supporting climate protection in developing and emerging countries since 2008.

Answer 2

* German climate policy follows international and European climate protection goals. * The Climate Protection Plan 2050 differentiates the overarching greenhouse gas reduction goal by sectors. * Energy efficiency is a central pillar for reducing emissions in Germany. * There are numerous financing options for climate protection in Germany. * The National Climate Initiative (NKI) promotes projects for municipalities, businesses and consumers.

Answer 3

The European Green Deal

Answer 4

**EU ETS I**: * power generation, industry, maritime and aviation * (inclusion of shipping from 2026) * Reduction of emissions by 61% by 2030 (previously 43%) compared to 2005 levels * Reduction factor emission certificates 4.2 %/year from 2024 onwards * One-time reduction of the cap by 117 million CO2 allowances **EU ETS II**: * Emissions trading for the road transport (22% of emissions) and buildings (35% of emissions) sectors * Reduction by 43 % by 2030 compared to 2005 * Reduction factor of the certificates 5.15 - 5.43 % / year * In addition: CO2 border adjustment mechanism or Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to avoid carbon leakage

Answer 5

* Goal: Sustainable protection and restoration of the soil function * Protected property: Soil * Exemplary contents: – Defense against harmful soil changes – Remediation of contaminated sites – Precaution against adverse effects * Supplemented, among others, by the Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance and other environmental laws (e.g. WHG)

Answer 6

* Objective: Protection against harmful effects on the environment * Protected property: Air * Exemplary contents: – Basic obligations for operators of production facilities – Procedure of the approval process for production facilities * Clarification in regulations, administrative provisions and technical instructions

Answer 7

* Goal: **Transformation of climate-neutral Germany, compliance with international agreements **(Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Climate Treaty) * Contents: – Target for the preservation and expansion of so-called natural sinks such as forests and peatlands. – Regulatory framework if measures are not sufficient: emergency program for emission sectors that exceed annual emission levels – Climate protection investment program (Climate Protection Immediate Action Program 2022): 8 billion euros for 2022, measures for the industry, energy, buildings, transport, agriculture and forests and peatlands sectors, as well as cross-cutting measures. – BMU program for decarbonization of industry: approx. 3.5 billion euros in funding for decarbonization of energy-intensive industry in the years 2021-2025 * Adoption 17 December 2019

Answer 8

* The EU pursues a common climate protection policy in coordination with its member states. * EU emissions trading (EU-ETS, EU Emission Trading System) is a key climate protection instrument. * The reform of emissions trading in February 2018 had the effect of strengthening EU emissions trading. * Energy efficiency and renewable energies contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across the EU.

Answer 9

Instruments of the cooperative principle serve to increase environmental awareness by promoting the willingness of all social groups to take responsibility and participate in the elimination and prevention of environmental damage. Example: Climate summit

Answer 10

If the polluters of an environmental pollution or the share of damage attributable to them cannot be determined, the general public must pay for the costs of elimination. Example: public sewage treatment plants or landfills

Answer 11

* Regulatory instruments * Economic instruments * Co-regulation * Information-based instruments * Self-regulation * Support & capacity building

Answer 12

**Grandfathering** * Each market participant receives as many certificates as they need to cover their historical pollution * Advantage: No radical market distortions * Disadvantage:Penalizing progressive companies so-called "windfall profits" arise **Benchmarking** * Definition of a best-available technology (BAT) for each industry sector or process * All market participants receive free certificates in the amount of BAT's CO2 emissions – * Additional required certificates must be obtained through trading * Disadvantage: Identification of BAT maybe difficult (e.g.,in the automotive industry) **Auction** * Certificates are auctioned off to the highest bidder * Advantage: Creates high transparency on the marginal abatement costs of CO2 emissions

Answer 13

 moral persuasion of private economic entities that aim at the reduction and elimination of environmental damage.  Examples: Information, appeals, social sanctions

Answer 14

 When influencing general conditions, there are only indirect behavioral effects, the private economic entities can still take their own decisions  Examples: Environmental levies, subsidies, environmental licenses.

Answer 15

Direct influence on the behavior of private economic entities is usually implemented by environmental regulations. Environmental requirements are environment-related behavioral regulations that are aimed directly at the polluter. They can be designed as prohibitions or as requirements.  Examples: Input requirements, output requirements, procedural requirements.

Answer 16

carbon offset scheme allowing countries (Annex B state) **to fund GHG-reducing projects in other countries (Non-Annex B state)** and claim the saved emissions as part of their own efforts to meet international emissions targets **Criticism:** * **Additionality Issues** (There have been concerns that some projects approved for CDM credits might have happened anyway or that the claimed emission reductions are overstated.) * **Perverse Incentives** * **Baseline and Monitoring Issues**

Answer 17

emissions trading, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI)

Answer 18

any Annex I country can invest in a project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in any other Annex I country **Criticism:** * Additionality and Permanence (like CDM) * Environmental Integrity * Verification and Monitoring Issues

Answer 19

**Grandfathering** **+**avoid sudden economic shocks **-**creating inequities and discouraging early adoption of cleaner technologies **Auctioning** **+**generating revenue **-**potential regressive impact on lower-income/resistance from industries **Benchmarking** **+**rewarding industries/incentivizes the adoption of cleaner technologies **-**benchmarks can be challenging/ more Bureaucracy

Chapter 2 - Political-Legal Perspective Flashcards

(43 cards)