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802. The Paris Agreement – an important step in facing climate change challenges
- Author:
- Marina Funduk
- Publication Date:
- 07-2016
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO)
- Abstract:
- t the twenty-�irst session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), which was held in Paris, France, in December 2015, 195 countries reached an historic agreement to combat climate change, and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable, low carbon future. The central aim of the Paris Agreement is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, by keeping the global temperature rise in this century to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further, to 1.5°C. Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts caused by global warming. To reach these ambitious goals, it was agreed that appropriate �inancial �lows, new technology and an enhanced capacity building framework should be put in place, to support the most vulnerable countries.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Environment, and International Cooperation
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
803. THE GEOPOLITICS OF THE ARCTIC
- Author:
- Sandro Knezović
- Publication Date:
- 10-2016
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO)
- Abstract:
- The climate change at the global level has brought the new dynamics to the international relations in general and some regions in particular. This is so especially in the Arctic, where ice melting changes the geostrategic posture of the region, transforming it from a marginal zone with hostile climate into an area of growing strategic competition. ...the Arctic, where ice melting changes the geostrategic posture of the region, transforming it from a marginal zone with hostile climate into an area of growing strategic competition. Actually, the pace of ice melting, that was almost unthinkable a decade ago, is re�lective of the increasing geostrategic signi�icance of the Arctic. Namely, around 1 million square meters melt every year during the last decade, leaving the ice cap at less than half of its size from the mid-20th century. It is also estimated that almost a half of the Arctic permafrost (permanent ice) has already disappeared, which means that it is likely that the ocean will be seasonally ice-free in 20-30 years. Namely, growing global temperatures are actually doing nothing less than opening of a new ocean, a development unprecedented on Earth since the end of the Ice Age. This opens new perspectives in maritime transport and traveling, as well as access to estimated 20% of undiscovered global reserves of oil and gas. In the era of increased trade dynamics between Asia and Europe, as well as due to the fact that it is highly unlikely that alternative energy resources will prevail over hydrocarbons in the period to come, the Arctic is attracting the attention not only of littoral states but beyond. Rapid melting and possible intensi�ication of Arctic transport and drilling undoubtedly carry negative environmental consequences, which raises the issue of well proscribed and appropriately implemented system of regional governance in a changing global context. Apart from that, there are serious challenges to a scenario of energy-rich Arctic that is open for low-cost transport in the short and mid-term period, which have to be taken into account. Obviously, there are at least three essential elements that are determinant for the future of increasingly important Arctic in the context of wider international relations: transport, resources and governance. Taking a closer look at them, will surely help grasping the entire phenomena of the Arctic meltdown.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Environment, and Natural Resources
- Political Geography:
- Arctic
804. Avoiding a Full Arctic Meltdown
- Author:
- Cathleen Kelly and Kelsey Schober
- Publication Date:
- 09-2016
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Center for American Progress - CAP
- Abstract:
- Supplied with new evidence of accelerating Arctic warming and approaching environmental tipping points, the Obama administration will convene science ministers from around the world in September to assess the rate and consequences of Arctic climate change and weigh global strategies for averting its worst effects. This first-ever White House Arctic Science Ministerial—which will include top science advisers, high-level officials, and Arctic indigenous community leaders—coincides roughly with the one-year anniversary of President Barack Obama’s 2015 Alaskan Arctic trip. After his historic visit to the High North, President Obama told Vogue, “The looming crisis in the Alaska Arctic is a tangible preview of the looming crisis of the global condition.” The president is right to worry. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, setting off a cascade of dangerous changes at the top of the world that include vanishing Arctic snow and ice, thawing permafrost, and melting of the Greenland ice sheet. These changes risk triggering irreversible tipping points with perilous side effects, such as unmanageable sea-level rise and coastal flooding, more frequent extreme weather, and increased warming and carbon emissions. These changes threaten the well-being of people around the globe.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Environment, International Cooperation, Science and Technology, and Carbon Emissions
- Political Geography:
- Arctic
805. How Carbon Pricing Could Span the United States and North America
- Author:
- Gwynne Taraska and Howard Marano
- Publication Date:
- 11-2016
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Center for American Progress - CAP
- Abstract:
- Carbon pricing is flourishing in North America. Canada, for example, has announced a national price to take effect in 2018, while Mexico has announced a 12-month cap-and-trade pilot that will evolve into a national program. These developments join a network of established pricing instruments, including a carbon tax in Mexico and subnational systems in California, the northeast United States, and several Canadian provinces. Once unlikely, it now seems probable that carbon pricing will proliferate not only across Canada and Mexico but also in the United States. Carbon taxes and cap-and-trade programs have found a diverse set of U.S. proponents, including from the private sector and from across the political spectrum, who view carbon pricing instruments as effective and efficient methods of curbing greenhouse gas emissions and the disruptive effects of climate change.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Environment, Regional Cooperation, Carbon Emissions, and Price Control
- Political Geography:
- Canada, North America, Mexico, and United States of America
806. Carbon Emissions and Economic Growth: Production-based versus Consumption-based Evidence on Decoupling
- Author:
- Goher-Ur-Reham Mir and Servaas Storm
- Publication Date:
- 03-2016
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET)
- Abstract:
- Working Paper Carbon Emissions and Economic Growth: Production-based versus Consumption-based Evidence on Decoupling MAR 2016 | ENERGY | ENVIRONMENT SHARE WORKING PAPER SERIES BY Goher-Ur-Rehman Mir Ecofys Consulting Servaas Storm Senior Lecturer of Economics, Delft University of Technology DOWNLOAD PAPER We assess the Carbon-Kuznets-Curve hypothesis using internationally consistent and comparable production-based versus consumption-based CO2 emissions data for 40 countries (and 35 industries) during 1995-2007 from the World Input Output Database (WIOD). The estimates for per capita CO2 emissions are truly comprehensive as these include all carbon emissions embodied in international trade and global commodity chains. Even if we find evidence suggesting a decoupling of production-based CO2 emissions and growth, consumption- based CO2 emissions are monotonically increasing with per capita GDP. We draw out the implications of these findings for climate policy and binding emission reduction obligations.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Energy Policy, Environment, Economic Growth, and Carbon Emissions
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
807. Socio-Economic Effects of Chinese Agricultural Investments on the Environment and Local Livelihoods in Uganda
- Author:
- Ramathan Ggoobi and Julian Barungi
- Publication Date:
- 01-2016
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE)
- Abstract:
- 7he nature and signifcance of &hinaȺs engagePents with $frican agriculture continues to be hotly debated in the media, academia and policy circles around the world. Although China has been engaged in Uganda’s agriculture for more than 40 years, the recent jostle for agricultural land by private Chinese investors is Pystifying and Mustifes the need to conduct a scientifc study to provide clear evidence before the issue gets bundled into the messy anecdotal media inquiry. 7he priPary oEMective of this study was to profle &hinese investPents in Uganda’s agriculture sector and establish their socio-economic effects on the environment and local livelihoods. The analysis was done on the basis of the 6ustainaEle 5ural /ivelihood $pproach 6858/$ which uses fve key criteria for the analysis of sustainable livelihoods i.e. gainful employment; poverty reduction; well-being and capabilities; livelihood adaptation, vulnerability and resilience; and natural resource base sustainability.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Development, Environment, Investment, and Sustainability
- Political Geography:
- Uganda, Africa, China, and Asia
808. Environmental Regulations and Competitiveness: Evidence based on Chinese firm data
- Author:
- Ankai Xu
- Publication Date:
- 01-2016
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Centre for International Environmental Studies, The Graduate Institute (IHEID)
- Abstract:
- This paper provides empirical evidence in support of the Porter hypothesis that tighter environmental regulations can increase productivity under certain circumstances. It builds on a theoretical model in which environmental regulations induce firms to adopt more efficient technologies. Using Chinese firm-level data covering a ten-year period, the empirical study examines the effects of two specific policy instruments - the pollution levy and regulatory standards - on firm productivity. It finds a bell-shaped relationship between pollution levies and the total factor productivity of firms, indicating that an increase in the pollution levy rate can be associated with higher productivity. In addition, the study investigates the effect of pollution emission standards on firm productivity and identifies an initial negative effect which diminishes after a period of two to three years.
- Topic:
- Environment, Regulation, Innovation, and Productivity
- Political Geography:
- China and Asia
809. The Notion of Stability in a Changing Climate & Environment of the MENA Region
- Author:
- Katarína Hazuchová
- Publication Date:
- 07-2015
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Global Political Trends Center (GPoT)
- Abstract:
- It has been only roughly four decades since the environmental securities in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region has increasingly gained prominence. On one hand, water scarcity and on the other hand climate change, are threatening fragile social, ecological resilience and economic stability in a region already stricken by turmoil and violence.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Environment, Political stability, and Resilience
- Political Geography:
- Middle East and North Africa
810. Human Rights in Minefields: Extractive Economies, Environmental Conflicts, and Social Justice in the Global South
- Author:
- César Rodríguez
- Publication Date:
- 08-2015
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Dejusticia
- Abstract:
- This book collect stories of 16 activists researchers of the Global South about differents subjects of human rights in their respective countries. There are the results of the first workshop investigation-action realised by Dejusticia.
- Topic:
- Development, Environment, Human Rights, Social Justice, Mining, and Justice
- Political Geography:
- Global South