jennie stephens - myra kraft open classroom - october 26, 2016

Visions of the World and the Role of the US: Global Environmental Governance

Myra Kraft Open ClassroomOctober 26, 2016

Jennie C. Stephens, Ph.D.Dean’s Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy

School of Public Policy and Urban AffairsNortheastern University

US Role in Global Environmental Governance

Leader or laggard? ▫Historical shifts▫Sustainable Development▫Biodiversity, Water, Ozone, GMOs, Nuclear

RiskClimate Change

▫Climate Science & Climate Denial▫Climate Policy▫Climate Mitigation technology

Global Environmental Governance

Hillary Clinton Donald Trump• Views climate change as

an “urgent threat”• Will uphold the Paris

Agreement• Wants the US to become

the clean-energy superpower of the 21st century

• Denies climate change • “Cancel” or withdraw

from the Paris Convention• Made claims that climate

change created by the Chinese to hurt US manufacturing

• Doesn’t think the US should “waste” financial resources on climate change

Leader or Laggard?

•US instrumental in UN Environmental Program 1972

•US driving force behind:▫ World Heritage Convention▫ International Whaling Commission, ▫ Ocean Dumping Convention▫ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna

•Yet recent decades often perceived as laggard▫Particularly challenges in international climate

negotiations

Economic Development & Environmental DegradationSustainable DevelopmentDevelopment that meets the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability to meet those of the futureBrundtland Commission report, “Our Common Future” 1987

USA

EUChina

India Africa

US high resource use = disproportionate impact


Leader or laggard? ▫Historical shifts

Sustainable Development▫Biodiversity, Water, Ozone, GMOs, Nuclear

RiskClimate Change


Increasing CO2 concentrations

050

100150200250300350400450500

1850 1875 1900 1925 1950 1975 2000

Year

EJ/

year

GasOilCoalNuclearHydro +Biomass

Increasing global energy

demand

Climate Change is Primarily an Energy ProblemEnergy-dependent society – including agriculture/food

Source: http://aim.hamptonu.edu/library/gallery/gal-sci.html

Holdren, 2006

CO2 disperses globally – so we have to think globally

Climate Denial•Refusing to accept the scientific evidence

for climate change•Not only, but largely a US phenomenon




RiskClimate Change


CO2 Emissions by Country in 2010

USEPA 2011

USA

EU

India

China

Africa

Responses to climate changeMitigation: attempting to reduce the impacts of

climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Transforming our energy system.

Adaptation: Enhance resilience, prepare for disruptions and build capacity for change, adjust to new conditions,

International climate policy has focused on mitigation, but adaptation and climate resilience is becoming increasingly important

International Climate PolicyUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCC) 1992 Non-binding general agreement to achieve:“Stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system…”- 192 countries ratified- Provides governments framework for cooperation, sharing information, etc.

Kyoto Protocol, 1997. National commitments to reductions below 1990 levels 2008-2012 commitment period. - 184 Parties of the Convention ratified Kyoto (entered into force 2005)- Includes commitments for 37 industrialized countries plus the EU

COP-13 in Bali, Indonesia, 2007 created the Bali Action Plan- A plan for a new negotiating process designed to culminate in Copenhagen in 2009.

COP-15 Copenhagen 2009. Highly anticipated culmination- Original purpose - New post-Kyoto agreement to come into force in 2012- November, 2009 objective publically downgraded to non-binding agreemen

COP-16 Cancun, Mexico December 2010COP-17 Durban, South Africa December 2011COP-18 Doha, Qatar, November 2012COP-19 Warsaw, Poland December 2013COP-20 Lima Peri, December 2014COP-21 Paris, France December 2015. The Paris Convention - Legally binding agreement, ambitious emissions targets moved from 2oC to 1.5oC

COP-22 Marrakech, Morocco, November 2016. Focus on Action, mechanisms for implementation

“Never have the stakes been so high”

Prince Charles, one of many world leaders gave a compelling and motivating speech on Day 1

Unlike Copenhagen (when leaders came on the last day of 2 weeks), in Paris world leaders came on the first day to set the stage of the importance of the negotiations ahead.

21st Annual Conference of the Parties (COP-21) of the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change

Diverse Perspectives On ParisSUCCESSES• Procedurally a success

within UNFCCC • Legally binding agreement• Target more stringent -

moved from 2oC to 1.5oC• Ratchet mechanism to

reassess Intended Nationally Determined Reductions (INDCs) every 5 years▫ But doesn’t start until

2023• Demonstrates international

commitment legitimizing action

LIMITATIONS • Lacks effective policies,

mechanisms and measures to meet the target ▫ Some see as dishonest

because so far from reality

• No clear message on phasing out fossil-fuels

• No fundamental or systemic change

• Vague on financing • Business as usual from

climate justice perspective

Paris Climate Change AgreementOver 55 Parties covering more than 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions have now ratified the Paris Climate Change Agreement

"Strong international support for the Paris Agreement entering into force is testament to the urgency for action, and reflects the consensus of governments that robust global cooperation is essential to meet the climate challenge."

International Climate PolicyUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCC) 1992 Non-binding general agreement to achieve:“Stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system…”- 192 countries ratified- Provides governments framework for cooperation, sharing information, etc.

Kyoto Protocol, 1997. National commitments to reductions below 1990 levels 2008-2012 commitment period. - 184 Parties of the Convention ratified Kyoto (entered into force 2005)- Includes commitments for 37 industrialized countries plus the EU

COP-13 in Bali, Indonesia, 2007 created the Bali Action Plan- A plan for a new negotiating process designed to culminate in Copenhagen in 2009.

COP-15 Copenhagen 2009. Highly anticipated culmination- Original purpose - New post-Kyoto agreement to come into force in 2012- November, 2009 objective publically downgraded to non-binding agreemen

COP-16 Cancun, Mexico December 2010COP-17 Durban, South Africa December 2011COP-18 Doha, Qatar, November 2012COP-19 Warsaw, Poland December 2013COP-20 Lima Peri, December 2014COP-21 Paris, France December 2015. The Paris Convention - Legally binding agreement, ambitious emissions targets moved from 2oC to 1.5oC

COP-22 Marrakech, Morocco, November 2016. Focus on Action, mechanisms for implementation




RiskClimate Change

▫Climate Science & Climate Denial▫Climate Policy▫Energy & Climate Mitigation technology

The Renewable Energy Transition

Fossil fuel based energy systems

Renewablebased energy systems

Much more than a technical substitutionA shift from fierce competition for a scarce resource (Fossil fuels) to a

system based on abundant, plentiful, perpetual energy

Tend to focus on supply but changes in energy demand/consumption also requiredCultural and institutional changes

Rapid growth in wind & solar

Solar

31 GW

318 GW

10 X growthWind

Also…

GeothermalOcean EnergyBioenergyHydropower

432,400

2015

Fossil fuels still dominate but social costs of carbon (negative impacts) increasingly obvious challenging fossil fuel future

Technological advances of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has expanded access to fossil fuel resources (shale oil and gas) in recent years in an unanticipated way

What is “clean coal”? Is the US a leader?

Source: American Coalition for Clean Coal ElectricitySource: www.talkgreen.ca

Tyree, S. and M. Greenleaf (2009). "The Environmental Injustice of "Clean Coal": Expanding the National Conversation on Carbon Capture and Storage Technology to Include an Analysis of Potential Environmental Justice Impacts." Environmental Justice 2(4): 167-171.

Technology Behind Clean Coal? Carbon capture and storage and “clean coal”

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/engineering/2011-12-team15/Documents.html

https://ourfiniteworld.com/2012/03/12/world-energy-consumption-since-1820-in-charts/

Global Environmental Governance

Hillary Clinton Donald Trump• Views climate change as

an “urgent threat”• Will uphold the Paris

Agreement• Wants the US to become

the clean-energy superpower of the 21st century

• Denies climate change • “Cancel” or withdraw

from the Paris Convention• Made claims that climate

change created by the Chinese to hurt US manufacturing

• Doesn’t think the US should “waste” financial resources on climate change

Cambridge University PressFebruary 2015

Publications available

Email: [email protected]: jenniecstephens.com

jennie stephens - myra kraft open classroom - october 26, 2016

Education