BIOL20050 - government action

explain the tragedy of the commons

When a public resource is unregulated, private self-interest can cause it to be used unsustainably leading to depletion of the resource.

list the 7 principles of sustainable governance

1. sustainable use of natural resources.

2. equity and poverty eradication.

3. precautionary approach to human health, natural resources and ecosystems.

4. public participation, access to information and justice

5. good governance and human security

6. integration and interrelationship

7. common but differentiated responsibilities

outline common but differentiated responsibility

there is a common responsibility for global sustainable development, however each stakeholder should have differing responsibilities e.g developed countries have a larger responsibility than developing countries

why would we have to be precautionary in our approach to global sustainability?

we want to avoid any actions towards sustainability that may cause significant harm to humans/ natural resources/ ecosystems

what are the 2 industries that release the most GHG emissions in ireland?

1. agriculture

2. transport

2 main goals of the EU climate law 2021

1. 55% emissions cut by 2030

2. carbon neutral by 2050

list the 4 policy instruments of the national climate plan

1. economic instruments: market based approaches

2. regulatory approaches

3. market information

4. public goods and services

list 2 economic approaches to the national climate plan

1. price policies: import taxes per carbon tonne and subsidies

2. quantity polices: decrease supply

outline the regulatory approach to the national climate plan

to establish an objective that must be fulfilled by provider

- limit amount of emissions released

- sustainable technology to be used '

- have product standards

outline the role of public goods and services in the national climate plan

1. provision of infrastructure for low-carbon development

2. change in land use e.g afforestation

3. structural agriculture policies

4. research and technology polices

outline the role of market information in the national climate plan

1. labels informing consumers of sustainability of product

2. public education

3. NGO support

what is the most important policy in the national climate plan

POLICY REGULATION

conventional regulation vs market based regulation

conventional: sets limits to emissions

market-based: cap-and-trade/ carbon tax

what is the ETS

european emission trading scheme launched in 2005

what is the main role of the ETS

- it is an instrument used for implementing the 1997 kyoto protocol

- the worlds first cross-border emissions trading scheme

list 3 advantages of the ETS

1. capping overall emission levels

2. reduction of emissions to be factored into business strategies

3. minimises distortions to competition among industries in the EU by imposing EU-wide carbon price

how many phases of the ETS has there been?

4 phases

- first 2005-2007

- second 2008-2012

- third 2013-2020

- fourth 2021-2030