Climate Change and

the Environment

Climate Change and

the Environment

The dangers of carbon dioxide? Tell that to a plant, how dangerous carbon dioxide is!

-Rick Santorum

The dangers of carbon dioxide? Tell that to a plant, how dangerous carbon dioxide is!

-Rick Santorum

Jeb Bush vs. Pope Francis 99% of Peer reviewed articlesJeb Bush vs. Pope Francis 99% of Peer reviewed articles

“Climate change is human caused and it will dramatically affect the world’s poorest”

“I am not a scientist, but I know there is a dispute among the scientists regarding climate change.”

Climate Change?Climate Change?

• 2014 Dryest and hottest March in US weather recorded history (since 1895). 15,292 record highs recorded across the country.

• Or Just a cycle?

• 2014 Dryest and hottest March in US weather recorded history (since 1895). 15,292 record highs recorded across the country.

• Or Just a cycle?

The data is there!The data is there!

Skeptics v. Paleo Climate Data fm Vostok Ice CoresSkeptics v. Paleo Climate Data fm Vostok Ice Cores

Central ThemesCentral Themes

• Reaching a worldwide consensus on how to address environmental concerns.

• Allowing nations to continue developing while also encouraging reductions in activities that are detrimental to the global environment.

• Encouraging the individual to engage in more environmentally friendly activities

• Reaching a worldwide consensus on how to address environmental concerns.

• Allowing nations to continue developing while also encouraging reductions in activities that are detrimental to the global environment.

• Encouraging the individual to engage in more environmentally friendly activities

• What are the main challenges to addressing global warming and climate change?

• What are the main challenges to addressing global warming and climate change?

BackgroundBackground

• 1992: Nations meet in Rio de Janeiro– First such meeting devoted to

addressing climate change– Participating countries committed to

the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)

• 1992: Nations meet in Rio de Janeiro– First such meeting devoted to

addressing climate change– Participating countries committed to

the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)

Background continuedBackground continued

• 1995: FCCC participants meet in Berlin– They agree, in principle, to set

specific targets for reductions in the future

Which leads to…

• 1995: FCCC participants meet in Berlin– They agree, in principle, to set

specific targets for reductions in the future

Which leads to…

Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol

• 1997: Countries meet in Japan to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol– Signatories would agree to make

“meaningful” and “specific” reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions

– During negotiations, two key concessions are made

• 1.) Nations can work towards meeting their reduction targets by planting vast amounts of trees

• 2.) A cap-and-trade scheme is set up where countries can buy pollution credits from one another

• 1997: Countries meet in Japan to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol– Signatories would agree to make

“meaningful” and “specific” reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions

– During negotiations, two key concessions are made

• 1.) Nations can work towards meeting their reduction targets by planting vast amounts of trees

• 2.) A cap-and-trade scheme is set up where countries can buy pollution credits from one another

Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol

Setbacks and challenges:1997: Countries meet in Bonn to negotiate increased and continued reductions

-Negotiations come to a stalemate 2001: The Bush administration withdraws its support for Kyoto

Setbacks and challenges:1997: Countries meet in Bonn to negotiate increased and continued reductions

-Negotiations come to a stalemate 2001: The Bush administration withdraws its support for Kyoto

Kyoto cont.Kyoto cont.

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question• What were the flaws in the Kyoto

Protocol? • What were the flaws in the Kyoto

Protocol?

The Suffering OceanThe Suffering Ocean

• Carbon dioxide leads to warming• Warmer temperatures hurt

– Good bye ice– http://video.economist.com

• Waste in the ocean/acidification– “red tides” & “dead zones”

• Over-fishing– Decreasing biodiversity

• An unbalanced ecosystem

• Carbon dioxide leads to warming• Warmer temperatures hurt

– Good bye ice– http://video.economist.com

• Waste in the ocean/acidification– “red tides” & “dead zones”

• Over-fishing– Decreasing biodiversity

• An unbalanced ecosystem

A little thought…A little thought…

• The ocean’s pretty big, should we even care about its problems? Why?

• How can the current changes in the ocean be approached in order to bring about the least harm and most benefit for the future?

• The ocean’s pretty big, should we even care about its problems? Why?

• How can the current changes in the ocean be approached in order to bring about the least harm and most benefit for the future?

U.S.U.S.• European Frustration with U.S. – Border

Tax? Free Rider?• Addressing global warming and climate

change is gaining momentum within the US

• Some believe that in the past the US has taken a moral leadership role - The US has an opportunity to do so again and regain some of its political influence

• European Frustration with U.S. – Border Tax? Free Rider?

• Addressing global warming and climate change is gaining momentum within the US

• Some believe that in the past the US has taken a moral leadership role - The US has an opportunity to do so again and regain some of its political influence

ChinaChina

• China’s emissions have now surpassed the United States’ emissions – increased 70% since 1990

• Economic growth– Based in heavy industry

• Environmental damage– Looming health concerns

• China seems resolute about maintaining their growth, so is it even possible for them to be pressured into addressing environmental concerns?

• China’s emissions have now surpassed the United States’ emissions – increased 70% since 1990

• Economic growth– Based in heavy industry

• Environmental damage– Looming health concerns

• China seems resolute about maintaining their growth, so is it even possible for them to be pressured into addressing environmental concerns?

IndiaIndia

• Next big challenge likely to be the environment

• The Ganges: India’s dumping ground– Human waste, cremation waste/corpses, etc.

• India has many environmental laws and institutions, but is still having difficulty – Rapid growth makes regulation a challenge

• Can India achieve growth and development while successfully enforcing environmental regulations at the same time?

• Next big challenge likely to be the environment

• The Ganges: India’s dumping ground– Human waste, cremation waste/corpses, etc.

• India has many environmental laws and institutions, but is still having difficulty – Rapid growth makes regulation a challenge

• Can India achieve growth and development while successfully enforcing environmental regulations at the same time?

DurbinDurbin• Dec 2011 last minute deal for all

countries to accept binding emission cuts by 2020

• Poor countries would be obliged to proportionally to the rich

• The goal is to limit the earth to a 2 Degree C temperature rise.

• Experts say cuts wont’ help, we are headed to a 4 degree rise.

• Dec 2011 last minute deal for all countries to accept binding emission cuts by 2020

• Poor countries would be obliged to proportionally to the rich

• The goal is to limit the earth to a 2 Degree C temperature rise.

• Experts say cuts wont’ help, we are headed to a 4 degree rise.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

• Do developing nations have a right to pollute more because developed nations polluted while they were developing?

• What can rich nations do to help poorer nations pollute less while still continuing to develop?

• What role does the individual have in combating climate change? If any?

• Do developing nations have a right to pollute more because developed nations polluted while they were developing?

• What can rich nations do to help poorer nations pollute less while still continuing to develop?

• What role does the individual have in combating climate change? If any?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

• Even if the US had signed and followed the Kyoto Protocol, would it have succeeded?

• What lessons can be learned from Kyoto and other similar treaties that will lead to a more effective and meaningful treaty in the future?

• Even if the US had signed and followed the Kyoto Protocol, would it have succeeded?

• What lessons can be learned from Kyoto and other similar treaties that will lead to a more effective and meaningful treaty in the future?