GEOG360_ClimateEthics_Assignment

.docx

School

McGill University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

360

Subject

Geography

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by ElderDinosaurMaster911

GEOG 360: Analyzing Sustainability McGill University Lab assignment #2: Climate change ethics In class, we considered the scientific question of how much carbon dioxide emissions would need to be reduced in order to stabilize climate at 2°C. The climate system does not care about the geographic distribution of how this reduction is achieved since CO 2 is well mixed in the atmosphere. However, the question “ Which nations should reduce CO 2 , by how much, and how quickly? ” is an important political and ethical question. In this lab you will explore various policy scenarios that reflect different underlying ethical considerations or priorities by imposing varying levels of permissible emission for different countries and regions of the world over time. Ethical Principles Moral philosophers have considered the issue of ethics in climate change and proposed several potential options for how to allocate future emissions. The various ethical principles include (among others): 1. The “polluter pays” principle (responsibility for past actions). 2. Capacity to pay (or benefits from past emissions). 3. The rights of poor nations to achieve a certain minimum level of development. 4. The rights to “subsistence” emissions. 5. Consideration for differences in natural environments (e.g., Canadians may be eligible for more emissions because of the need for heating). You will consider a few of these in the lab assignment for this module. Data Set From myCourses , download the data for eight nations/regions of the world. This dataset contains:  CO 2 emissions from fossil-fuel use from 1980-2010 (and extrapolation to 2018)  Population from 1980-2050 [the future projections are from the UN, based on the assumption of “medium-fertility”]  Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1989-2010 (and extrapolation to 2018) Note : the historic emissions and GDP data that we are using here only go to 2010; but we need to use historic data until 2018, which is the baseline year for our policy action. Although more recent data for these indicators is available from different databases, we will use simple “business-as- usual” assumptions (i.e., things behave as in the past) to project out to 2018, providing an example of the ‘TREND’ (linear) function in Excel. [ Accordingly, if you need to estimate some variables beyond 2018 for answering any questions below, you can make similar assumptions as needed for such future projections .] Assignment Assume that the world has decided on a policy to reduce global emissions by 3% per year after 2018 (i.e., global total emissions decrease by 3% per year each year after 2018). This is your global target emission . This level of emission reduction is shown graphically in your spreadsheet as the solid red line. The goal of this assignment is to allocate the future global target emissions between different countries/regions from 2019-2050 based on different policy scenarios that imply different ethical underpinnings. Respond to each question below, and use the template on the last page to fill in some of the answers. In your report (submitted as a text document), please provide sufficient detail to describe your calculations, assumptions, and interpretations. Add graphs or charts (e.g., bar chart, stacked area charts, line graphs, etc.) to display your data and results as you see fit for your explanation and purpose. Please give thought and attention to how you create your graphics – these can convey messages powerfully when they are clear and highlight the relevant information well. You will be assessed on this.

GEOG 360: Analyzing Sustainability McGill University 1. Explore the historical (pre-2010) data with a few simple calculations [8 pts]. Calculate, graph, and describe/explain the regional and temporal patterns of each:  Emissions  Emissions/capita  GDP/capita  Emissions intensity (emissions/unit GDP) FUTURE POLICY SCENARIOS For each question below, create and defend an emissions reduction policy scenario that reflects an ethical perspective. Consider, in some depth, how to frame the ethical issues based on the lecture, readings, and your intuition or perspectives. For each question:  explicitly state your goals and assumptions for creating a policy scenario,  calculate future emission allocations based on the stated considerations, and  create a graph of historical emissions and future allocations by country/region from 1980- 2050. Assessment of your work will be based on the accuracy and consistency of your calculations based on your stated goals and assumptions—and, for #6, your logic or creativity. Your written report should be comprehensive, clearly explain how and why you chose certain calculations, and include graphics when helpful. So, please give this some thought and effort. Consider the following cases: 2. The “polluter pays” principle (historical emissions matter) [2 pts]. Future emissions are allocated based on the principle that countries that emitted more in the past need to do more in the future to reduce emissions. 3. Capacity to pay [2 pts]. Most developed countries have benefited from past emissions and achieved high development status. Even if they are not held responsible for historic emissions, they have achieved high development because of it. Therefore, countries with higher capacity to pay should do more. 4. Equal per-capita emissions principle (“Contraction and convergence”) [4 pts]. This principle suggests that every human being has equal rights to the atmosphere. Contraction refers to the total amount of emissions reduction required (i.e., future avoided emissions). Convergence refers to a negotiated time period within which all nations converge to the same per-capita emissions. Assume convergence by 2030, then equal per-capita emissions after . 5. Compare outcomes [3 pts] . Critique the three scenarios, above (Questions #2-#4), and explain how they are similar or different from each other. What are your broad conclusions about how these basic ethical principles result in different outcomes? 6. Can you improve on this? Come up with your own scheme for allocation [8 pts]. Based on these or other ethical considerations, outline your own scheme for allocation. Provide a description and justification for your scheme. You may choose a hybrid of the above schemes, or use some other ranking/weighting criteria. Please be creative! 7. Incentives for action [3 pts]. For the schemes above, you have calculated a technocratic solution to curbing CO 2 emissions. Discuss the incentives for various nations/regions to follow each of the schemes proposed. Would countries voluntarily agree to such a scheme? Why or why not? Which policy do you think would have the greatest support?

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help