week 21 - environmental politics and policy Flashcards
(18 cards)
Are current policy efforts working to help climate change?
No - they’re unlikely to keep warming below 2 degrees.
What does tackling climate change require?
- Government cooperation across borders
- Understanding that the benefits and costs of climate change mitigation are not shared equally amongst the world (the countries who have to pay the adjustment costs (USA, China, etc) are the countries that are not at risk as much) - this makes it harder to agree on strategy.
what is the difference in individual consumption across the globe?
50% of global consumption is caused by the top 10%.
6th IPCC Report Findings (made up of > 800 scientists discussing the 2 degree target)
If we compare the risk of climate change, in comparison to the emissions per capita – we find quite a sharp negative correlation.
The countries at the most risk of climate change are the countries that have created the least amount of emissions.
Paris Climate Agreement (2015) aim
192 countries signed an agreement with targets and monitoring mechanisms to limit global warming.
Aim: hold increase in global average temperature below 2 degrees
Results: countries to review their climate targets every 5 years
PCA (2015) successes
Required ratification by 55 countries that make up at least 55% of global emissions.
Established $100 billion in funds for developing countries
195 countries ratified the Paris agreement, this represents over 97% of global emissions. The only countries to not yet formally join the agreement are: Libya, Yemen and Iran.
PCA update this year
All countries were meant to increase their commitments to reduce fossil fuels (it’s been 10 years since PCA), but only 15 countries have actually met this target.
No country has met the 1.5 degree target.
what is the tragedy of the commons and who coined it?
Tragedy of the Commons (Hardin, 1968) - while Hardin originally was looking at land overuse in Europe, this can be applied to the overuse of natural resources for personal benefit with no regulation.
‘Because there’s no institutionalisation or higher authority around x resource, I worry that if I do not use it for myself, anyone else can come in and use it instead. ‘
Also relates to the Prisoner’s Dilemma w/in Game Theory - everyone left in a sub-optimal position due to a lack of collective action and trust.
Tension between collective and individual interests - only the individual interest is in our control + no current means for the common interest to be adhered by everyone involved.
Critique of Hardin
Elinor Ostrom (2009) noted that when we actually look around the world, it’s not true that the tragedy of the commons exists.
^She talks about the types of institutions that work in low governance spaces. In order to achieve a stable amount of consumption of these common pool resources, we firstly need to achieve 8 design principles.
Ostrom’s 8 design principles (4 main) to achieve stable amount of consumption of common pool resources
1). Sanctions on those who violate rules
2). Self-determination for the community to set their own rules
3). All people who use the resource included in the decision making
4). Monitoring – we need to know who abides the rules
TWE did the PCA embody Ostrom’s principles?
They set rules around transparency, creating a sanction in the way of shaming those who break the rules.
However, the Paris agreement has no formal sanctions – which is something Ostrom doesn’t quite suggest. For example, Trump leaving the Paris agreement and nothing happening to him.
Why is it so hard to create a global institution to address climate change?
International agreements have a unique characteristic: they are set in a state of anarchy.
There is no governing institution that forces you to abide.
These agreements have to be self enforcing and designing such agreements is very complicated (4 main issues).
4 main issues why designing self-enforcing climate agreements is complicated
1). The issue complexity – environmental governance has A LOT of stakeholders.
2). Asymmetric costs and benefits – the costs need to be paid by those who won’t feel the benefit as much, and the benefit is felt by those who don’t pay the cost as much.
3). Opportunity cost – the benefit you forgo from the ‘next best’ option.
4). High enforcement costs – unlike other global issues (like trade for example) there is no clear issue linkages between countries.
California effect (race to the top)
(Vogel, 1995)
The California Effect happens when a big, powerful place (like California) sets very high standards (for things like the environment or consumer safety).
Because California is so big and important (large market), companies change their products to meet California’s rules, and then those higher standards spread to other places (standardisation).
Example: All USA car producers make their cars meet California’s strict emissions rules, so those rules end up being used everywhere - standardised product. This standardisation of competition may actually cause competition or capital to drive up standards.
Nickname: “Race to the top”—everyone raises their standards to match the strictest place.
GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT
Delaware effect (race to the bottom)
(Vogel, 1995)
The Delaware Effect happens when places (like states or countries) compete to have the weakest or most relaxed rules, so they can attract more businesses or people.
Example: Many companies choose to register in Delaware because it has the most business-friendly (lenient) laws, despite it being small state with relatively low GDP. Other states might lower their standards to compete.
Nickname: “Race to the bottom”—everyone lowers their standards to attract business.
Firms in general will lobby for low emission standards, and as we see expansion of globalisation and trade we will see a larger extraction of the commons.
BAD FOR ENVIRONMENT
How does exposure to forest fires affect people’s views on climate change?
The ballots in California around clean energy show that as you get nearer to a forest fire, you’re much more likely to support these initiatives.
Still, this is mainly in already left-leaning people.
What roles do elections play in deforestation?
(Sanford 2021) The election deforestation cycle - deforestation rises before or in the aftermath of an election - using resources to pay campaign funds or give benefits.
Election deforestation cycles - Colombia case
Colombia is one of the most forested countries in the world + still has a lot of their forest – yet they have lost about 10% of their forest since the 90s. The protection of their forest is managed by their government.
Colombia has rules that you can receive a certain amount of money during elections to help fund your campaign.
They compare mayors who receive donations vs who don’t -> donor funded mayors have substantially more deforestation than non-donor mayors. You get about double the amount of deforestation.
