Combatting Climate Change on a Supranational Scale

Question 1

What does success in combatting climate change look like?

Answer 1

Success in combatting climate change includes actually limiting temperature rise to 1.5C, meeting a global consensus, meeting financial pledges, hitting net zero emissions targets and nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and adapting properly to climate change and funding places in need.

Question 2

When was the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) founded?

Answer 2

The IPCC was founded in 1988 by the UN.

Question 3

What does the IPCC do?

Answer 3

The IPCC publishes assessment reports with the most recent report being AR6 in 2021. These reports provide accurate scientific data used to influence policy.

Question 4

What is a drawback of the IPCC’s assessment reports?

Answer 4

A drawback is that it takes a long time to make these reports, and by the time they are published, they are already out of date as they work with data from several years ago.

Question 5

Is the IPCC a political organization?

Answer 5

No, the IPCC is apolitical and involves all countries.

Question 6

What is the main role of the IPCC?

Answer 6

The IPCC is the main scientific authority on climate change, and their assessment reports are detailed documents thousands of pages long.

Question 7

What are COPs?

Answer 7

COPs are Conferences of the Parties run by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Question 8

When did the COPs start?

Answer 8

The COPs started in 1992.

Question 9

What was the result of COP3?

Answer 9

COP3 led to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. However, it somewhat failed as it only involved Annex I countries (developed countries), and the USA did not initially agree to it.

Question 10

What was the result of COP21?

Answer 10

COP21 led to the Paris Climate Agreement, which led to countries setting their own nationally determined contributions (NDCs). However, these contributions clashed with the aim of limiting temperature rise to 1.5C, with only Bhutan on track to achieve it. Additionally, the USA, under President Trump, withdrew from the agreement in 2017.

Question 11

What are the positives of the UNFCCC?

Answer 11

The UNFCCC involves near-universal membership, aims to create a $100 billion fund for poorer nations, and sets ambitious goals that, if implemented, would significantly reduce the impacts of climate change.

Question 12

What were the key outcomes of COP26 and COP27?

Answer 12

The key outcomes of COP26 and COP27 include more focus on adaptation rather than mitigation, agreement to phase down coal (though this was changed from phase out due to India and China’s objections), and criticism of COP27 for having too many people (47,000 delegates with over 600 from fossil fuel companies).

Question 13

When was the EU’s emissions trading system (EUETS) set up?

Answer 13

The EUETS was set up in 2005.

Question 14

What does the EUETS do?

Answer 14

The EUETS slowly reduces the amount of emissions in certain sectors, including aviation.

Question 15

Does the EUETS cover all of the EU’s emissions?

Answer 15

No, the EUETS only covers 40% of the EU’s emissions.

Question 16

How does the cap and trade system in the EUETS work?

Answer 16

The cap and trade system in the EUETS involves companies paying fines if they exceed the emissions cap. They can avoid fines by buying carbon allowances from other companies. The cap is slowly reduced by 2.2% every year.

Question 17

What is the significance of the EU’s emissions trading system?

Answer 17

The EU’s emissions trading system was the world’s first, and it inspired other systems like China’s. The UK also continued its own version after leaving the EU. So far, the EUETS has stopped over 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, and sectors covered by the system have decreased their emissions by 43% since 2005.

Question 18

What sectors are not covered by the EUETS?

Answer 18

The 60% of emissions not covered by the EUETS include housing, agriculture, and many other sectors, which are covered by the effort sharing regulation (ESR).

Question 19

What is the effort sharing regulation (ESR)?

Answer 19

The effort sharing regulation (ESR) is a system where countries take on binding annual targets for emissions reduction. Failure to reach these targets results in financial penalties. However, the consequences for non-compliance are considered too weak.

Question 20

What is the purpose of the ESR?

Answer 20

The ESR is supposed to create jobs and increase EU energy security against Russia.

Question 21

What are some pros of combating climate change on a supranational scale?

Answer 21

Pros of combating climate change on a supranational scale include setting the tone for global action, influencing national policies, the success in fixing the ozone issue through the Montreal Protocol, the effectiveness of monetary incentives like cap and trade on an international scale, and the recognition that climate change requires a global effort as no single country’s emissions alone can stop it.

Question 22

What are some challenges of combating climate change on a supranational scale?

Answer 22

Challenges include the polycentric nature of climate change, where different regions face different impacts, the complexity of the issue as a wicked problem, conflicting interests among countries, the collective action problem where a country may benefit from inaction if another country acts, and the lack of binding authority of institutions like the UN.