Climate Change (Introduction and UNFCCC) Flashcards
What is climate change?
Definition: A long-term alteration in global or regional climate patterns, largely due to increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
Key Gases: CO₂, CH₄ (32x stronger than CO₂), N₂O, HFCs (IPCC, 2001).
Impacts: Sea-level rise, extreme weather, biodiversity loss, public health risks (IPCC, 2001).
Political Disputes over Climate Change
North–South Divide: The Global South emphasizes historical responsibility and development rights, while the North seeks broad participation (Axelrod 2015).
Equity vs. Effectiveness: Disputes over whether to focus on per capita emissions or total emissions (Pulvenis 1994; Sands 1992).
Scientific Uncertainty: Used politically to delay action (Leggett & Hohnen, 1992)
What were the key milestones before the UNFCCC?
Scientific Milestones:
Svante Arrhenius (1896): First to link CO₂ to warming.
Keeling Curve (1958): Measured rising CO₂.
Villach and Toronto Conferences (1980s): Called for political action and set the “Toronto Target” (20% cut by 2005).
IPCC Created: 1988 by WMO and UNEP. Influenced 1990s negotiations (Axelrod 2015).
Toronto Conference (1988): First specific global GHG reduction target.
Overview of the UNFCCC?
Year: Signed at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, entered into force in 1994.
Objective (Article 2): Stabilize GHGs to prevent “dangerous anthropogenic interference” with the climate system.
Strengths of the UNFCCC
Universal participation: 197 parties; almost universal acceptance.
Key Principles:
Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)
Precautionary Principle
Right to Sustainable Development (Article 3)
Institutional Framework: COP, SBSTA, SBI, GEF (Axelrod 2015).
Weaknesses of the UNFCCC
Vagueness: No binding targets or dates; lacks enforcement (Hanisch 1992; Leggett & Hohnen, 1992).
Equity Conflicts: Differing views on historical responsibility and per capita emissions (Yamin, n.d.).
Political Gridlock: Resulted in lowest-common-denominator agreements.
From to UNFCCC to Kyoto
Berlin Mandate (COP-1, 1995): Launched talks for binding commitments for developed states.
Kyoto Protocol (1997):
5.2% reduction below 1990 levels (2008–2012).
Introduced flexible mechanisms: Emissions Trading, JI, CDM (Begg, 2002).
US Withdrawal (2001): Cited unfair burden and lack of developing country targets (Lisowski, 2002).
Critiques:
Targets too weak (Bolin, 1998).
“Hot air” credits (esp. Russia, Ukraine) undermined integrity (Lisowski, 2002).
Equity issues unresolved.
