Overall, internationally and nationally there is an inadequate and underdeveloped system of addressing climate change. Global climate change means it is a global problem, so one nation or a couple of nations will not be enough to combat the severe impacts headed our way. The world will need to address the effects of the changing climate on society and the ecosystems and pursue actions together to see any improvement. There has been several promising plans proposed for all heavy greenhouse gas emitters to set a maximum amount they can release. However, most of these plans did not carry through as hoped. For example, right now there is the Kyoto Protocol,
Copenhagen Accord, Paris Accord and COP-17 to help slow the impact of every nation on the environment around us. With the Kyoto Protocol, this only curbs emissions from the developed countries and does not have harsh consequences if they do not curb them. Also, Canada withdrew from this protocol in 2011 because they did not want to be apart of this until all the top emitting countries participate. Fortunately, this protocol was still a major success because when it was founded all the original members (192 countries) reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by 12.5% which was well above the goal of 4.7%. The downside is, when this was created it targeted wealthy nations, so countries today, that are major polluters were not targeted back then like China or India. Also, most countries are not legally bound to this protocol,
Climate change is taking a big toll on our world and that it something that needs assistance but if we step back
This goes beyond the limit agreed in the Kyoto Protocol, and hence appropriate measures need to be taken. Several possible solutions present itself in this scenario:
It is significant to recognize that as a non-binding agreement, if the reductions were not met, no penalty would be issued and no money paid forth. This is unlike the Kyoto’s binding agreement that was estimated to cost $14 billion in penalties for not achieving its goals, where if Canada had decided to continue to attempt its original goals, the costs were said to be twenty times lower (Canada and the Kyoto Protocol
Russia and Canada have removed themselves because of the restrictions that were being made were not reasonable for countries of their size and land mass combined with the population. Ronald Bailey, an American libertarian science writer, wrote suggestions for ideas on stopping the increase of global warming; this statement from him is included, “the new agreement sets the objective of "holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2[degrees]C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5[degrees]C above pre-industrial levels. Its long-term goal is to peak global emissions of greenhouse gases (chiefly carbon dioxide released by burning fossil fuels) as soon as possible. Thereafter, countries are to pursue rapid reductions so as to achieve net zero emissions by the second half of this century” (Bailey 20). If we cut down on the usage of fossil fuels it will help to slow down the increasing rate of climate change. If everyone does a little, it will help a lot in the long run. They have created restrictions on the output of factories and vehicles with burning gas, adds a lot to the
Climate change has always been an ominous, impending thought in the back of my mind. Every day, I try to be more cognizant of my ecological footprint, a mindset which had spurred me into becoming more environmentally cautious over the years. The crux of the matter was undoubtedly discussed by Mr. Bardecki over the dramatic changes concerning the Colorado River. Our earth relies heavily on water as a source of life— from humanity's perspective alone, we use it for hydration, agriculture, and sanitation. That being said, it is equally as essential that we take care of our planet and water sources. It is said that "we're failing as stewards of God’s creation, but these changes we're seeing, that's not God punishing us -we're destroying ourselves." In full confidence, I agree with this statement; if we drive our planet and our resources into ruin, we have but ourselves to blame. We cannot let this be our legacy. The Colorado River, known as one of the most endangered rivers in the continental US, is being threatened by a drought, one brought by the rising changes in climate, and greenhouse gas emissions. I believe that the risk factor is increased because of direct human activity such as leisurely boating, agricultural irrigation, and the import/export business, which studies will prove to be a correct assumption. It is indisputable that humans largely take part in the latter, and so, with all of the warning signs in place and alarms ringing, we must act quickly.
(Scientists say we must stay below a two-degree increase to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.) To help make the deal happen, the Obama administration pledged $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund, an international organization dedicated to helping poor countries adopt cleaner energy technologies. Under the terms of the Paris agreement, participating nations will meet every five years, starting in 2020, to revise their plans for cutting CO2 emissions. Beginning in 2023, they will also have to publicly report their progress (© Natural Resources Defense Council 2017).
In order to do so, people must greatly cut back greenhouse emissions and must develop other types of energy, so that the atmosphere no longer constantly has additional carbon dioxide. Although these actions may slow the process, it likely cannot be stopped or reversed. In the Northeast, eleven of the twelve states “have developed adaption plans for several sectors and 10 have released, or plan to release, statewide adaptation plans” (Horton 382). In doing so, the states can effectively communicate information about the reduction of carbon. Many believe that laws must be added in order to truly make sure that emissions are cut down. According to Senator Edward J. Markey, “‘We need to put in place the laws and policies that dramatically cut carbon pollution and help communities respond to this growing threat’” (Rocheleau). In recent years there have been many global meetings, such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, in order to discuss what to fix and how to enforce new laws. The past several meetings have gathered much momentum, and a goal is set for wealthy countries to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 95%. Although this process cannot be reversed, the globe can take several actions to slow global
Both are international organizations. But the UNFCCC recognizes that problems with the climate are real and evident, but hasn’t implement a system that would help lessen the problem. In 1988 the US had monumental problems with their climate, but rejected a proposal to lower counties’ discharge (273). The author’s evidence proves that there is a recognition for the need of climate control on an international level, but further steps are only taken if they do not impede on economic interests of these
The concurrent development of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992 and the Kyoto Protocol 1997, as well as the World Trade Organization, and the North American Free Trade Agreement 1994 has proven to be incompatible. The green business energy projects are diminished under the international trade rules. According to Klein, “after the US disapproved other countries’ local renewable energy development, some other countries now considered Ontario’s local content requirement as the violation of World Trade Organization” (66). Climate actions and the development of green energy are frequently challenged under the free trade policy. With the rise of such system which gives us the power of overproduction and overconsumption, with no doubt, government interventions on climate action have to be
Prior to the Paris Agreement, participating countries have submitted national plans that addressed their intentions for combatting the climate change after 2020 (Dimitrov 2016). These nationally determined contributions outlined a number of issues – all being relevant to adapting and coping with climate change challenge. Although these contributions are not final, they are representative of the intended climate actions that countries will pursue after 2020.
In order to tackle climate change, the world’s leading economies, including the UK, adopted the Kyoto Protocol in Japan in 1997 (United Nations, 1998). The aim of the Kyoto Protocol is to lower greenhouse gases (GHG) and as a consequence the UK committed to reducing their levels of carbon emission by 12.5% since 1990 and has succeeded to reduce them by 27% by 2011 (CCC, 2016).
Climate change is a worldwide issue. Not only is firm action and leadership critical in the United States, but also international efforts need to work toward reducing emissions. Strong public demand for climate change is crucial to enact effective global warming solutions for the future. Unless immediate action is taken, climate change will continue to escalate and continue to affect the entire planet. Ways nations and individuals can help repair the earth's atmosphere is reduce air pollution, use green energy, stop deforestation. Reducing air pollution could have a dramatic effect on climate change. Humans could impact this reduction by simple things such as conserving
Climate change has become a major challenging sustainable development issue of the twenty first century. It poses a significant and growing threat to human and public wellbeing, threatening food, water, health and national security. (Barrie & Steffen, 2015, p. 2)
In reference to the specific goals of the agreement, which was to lower the overall emissions of
2. Maurice Strong (the Secretary General of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit) liked to distinguish between “success” and “real success” in international agreements. Discuss the 2015 Paris climate change agreement with regard to whether it represents success or real success.