Extent of the climate crisis and need for global governance

2009 — 🇲🇻 president Mohamed Masheed

• Held a cabinet meeting 15m below sea level to show that 🇲🇻 will be uninhabitable w/in a century

  • This cannot be solved alone and is also caused by global issues

2017 — 🧊

• Antarctic sea ice reached smallest on record

• Arctic ice back down by 10,000km² in a decade

  • Proposal: refreeze the Arctic by pumping in billions of gallons of 💧

2016 — 🤒🌍

• 🤒🌍 record high

• Had been increasing for 3 years in a row

🤒🌍 consequences

• WB: will affect LICs

• Consequences:

  • Extreme weather events

  • Risks to costal cities

  • Threats to food and water supplies

Reasons we need effective GG for climate change

• Not only impacts and is caused by, but also solved by all states

  • To a different extent, but involves everyone nevertheless

1 effective way to tackle environmental challenges

1. Agree to international standards and law

3 requirements for effective international standards

1. Framework

2. Forums

3. Laws and treaties

Framework

• Way to quantify the problem

  • Needs independent scientific advice

Forums

• Platforms for discussion of solutions

  • Need to not have a higher authority forcing decisions

Laws and treaties

• Ensure accountability and legitimacy