GS 1 Final

Weeks 6-10

Global Warming

Long-term, human-induced average warming across the planet, first predicted in 1896.

Climate Change

Global warming and its wider climate effects, including both warmer and colder temperatures.

Climate Change: IPCC report findings

Negative effects of climate change are significantly worse at 2 degrees Celsius of warming than at 1.5 degrees Celsius. Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C compared with 2 degrees C could significantly reduce the number of people exposed to climate-related risks

Climate Change: US Primary energy consumption

Oil is the leading source, followed by coal and then natural gas. Cleaner sources like hydropower and nuclear are used less but are leading in usage among non-fossil fuels

Climate Change: Fossil fuel consumption trend

A slight decline in the consumption of fossil fuels has been observed in the last two decades

A product of globalization, driven by various interconnected economic and social processes

Climate Change

Climate Change: Capitalism and Industrialization

The pursuit of capitalism's goals and increasing industrialization for the exchange of goods and extraction of resources directly results in increased emissions

Climate Change: Global Supply Chains and Emissions

The complexity and distance inherent in global supply chains lead to heavy reliance on transportation and distribution, which in turn requires emissions from vehicles.

Climate Change: Globalization's Impact on Travel

The promotion of tourism, migration, and travel due to globalization has significant environmental impacts and increases our collective carbon footprint.

Climate Change: Technological Development and Resource Use

Continuous technological development and improvement require ever more inputs and materials, contributing to environmental strain.

Climate Change: Global Markets and Commodity Chains

The global nature of markets and commodity chains inevitably results in emissions across all stages of production and distribution.

Climate Change: Historical Drivers of Emissions

Imperialism, capitalism, and the Industrial Revolution are foundational historical processes that initiated a steep increase in carbon emissions.

Climate Change: modern driver of emissions

globalization: increased trade and transnational production necessitate more movement of goods and materials globally.

Climate Change: Population Growth and Health Improvements

A factor contributing to overall resource consumption and emissions: improved global health has led to significant global population growth

Climate Change: Standards of Living and Consumption

A driver of increased emissions: rising standards of living and consumption levels globally lead to greater demand for energy and goods.

Climate Change: Cumulative Effect

All the aforementioned factors combine to generate more and more carbon emissions, ultimately accelerating climate change.

Climate change impact on globalization

Climate change acts as a crisis for globalization, causing disruptions and forcing changes to established global systems.

Climate Change: Localization of commodity chains

Making commodity chains more localized and regionalized in an attempt to address climate change and reduce vulnerabilities.

Climate Change: Economic impacts

Increasing costs and economic disruptions to current patterns of global economic growth and trade.

Climate Change: Impact on standard of living

Declining standards of living as a direct result of climate change impacts.

Climate Change: Migration and borders

Increasing migration, within and between countries, due to climate change, leading to stricter borders and restricted movement.

Climate Change: Urbanization and living conditions

Increasing urbanization and subsequent slum formation as populations move to urban centers.

Climate Change: Conflicts over resources

Violent intra- and international conflicts arising specifically over water security.

Climate Change: Political consequences (General)

Resurgent nationalism, xenophobia, and border closures occurring as a result of these climate-related crises.

Climate Change: Highlight of Institutional Failures

Failures of international institutions and cooperation when attempting to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.

Climate Change: Highlights-Challenges to Growth

Significant challenges to global economic growth, integration, and cooperation.

Is climate change a global problem with even responsibility?

It is a global problem but with uneven responsibility.

Which countries were the primary contributors to CO2 emissions as of 1945 (end of WWII and start of LIEO)?

The US and developed European states were virtually the only ones contributing to CO2 emissions.

Climate Change: By 1991, which other major countries also began to contribute significantly to emissions?

Canada, India, China, Japan, and Australia joined the US and European nations as significant contributors.

Climate Change: As of 2023, which three countries emit the most CO2?

The US, Russia, and China. Russia and China have caught up to the US due to rapid industrialization and growth (rise of BRICs).

Climate Change: Which single country emits the most carbon dioxide per year?

China emits the most carbon dioxide per year.

Climate Change: What are the limitations of only looking at national emissions data?

It doesn't account for offshoring production, population density, or consumption-based CO2 emissions (users of carbon). China's per capita emissions are lower, and the US has the highest consumption-based emissions.

Climate Change: Is vulnerability to climate change evenly distributed?

No, there is uneven vulnerability. The Global South (Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia) is most vulnerable.

Why are climate change problems more acute in certain regions?

Severity is based on physical positionality and economic factors. Dependence on agricultural primary commodities makes a country more vulnerable.

What is the paradox regarding the countries that produce the most emissions and their vulnerability?

The countries that produce the most emissions are generally the least vulnerable. They have wealthier, more resilient economies, allowing them to better withstand the effects of climate change.

Patterns of uneven climate change are shaped by 

• imperial legacies

• ‘G’lobalization

• Uneven development

What is mitigation in the context of climate change solutions?

Mitigation refers to strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global warming. These strategies, implemented anywhere, ultimately benefit everyone by reducing the overall atmospheric concentration of heat-trapping gases.

What are some specific strategies for climate change mitigation?

• Transitioning to green (renewable) energy sources

• Phasing out fossil fuels

• Increasing energy efficiency in homes, transport, and industry

• Implementing carbon capture and storage technologies

• Developing methods for direct CO2 removal from the atmosphere

• Eliminating emissions of certain potent substances (like some short-lived climate pollutants)

• Lowering overall energy consumption

What is adaptation in the context of climate change solutions?

involves strategies for reducing the negative effects of climate change and dealing with ongoing warming. These are typically local strategies that vary significantly by location and context.

What are some specific strategies for climate change adaptation?

• Using resilient infrastructure to address issues caused by global warming (e.g., heatwaves, floods)

• Ecosystem restoration and biodiversity management to enhance natural resilience

• Implementing coastal defense and hardening measures against sea-level rise and storm surges

• Developing green infrastructure, sustainable land use practices, and water management systems

• Establishing social safety nets and improving disaster risk management plans

Mitigation Progress

Not enough money is going towards limiting emissions, making it harder to stay below 2 degrees warming.

Adaptation Progress

Despite some progress, adaptation gaps exist and will continue to grow at current implementation rates. Current global financial flows for adaptation are insufficient, constraining options, especially in developing countries.

Overall Financial Flow Summary

Not enough money is going to either mitigation or adaptation efforts.

What is the official name of the agreement signed in 2015?

The Paris Agreement.

Did the Paris agreement contain both binding and non-binding aspects?

Yes, it included both types of provisions.

Q: How many nations initially agreed to the Paris Agreement?

A: 195 nations.

Q: How was the agreement ratified by President Obama?

A: By executive action.

Q: What is the significance of the Paris Agreement in the context of global climate efforts?

A: It was the first significant global effort to address climate change.

Q: On what principle were the national emission reductions based?

A: They were based on voluntary national emission reductions, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Q: What is the primary temperature goal of the agreement?

A: To keep the global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius (relative to pre-industrial levels), while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Q: How many countries initially submitted plans (NDCs) on how they would reduce emissions?

A: 186 countries.

Q: What mechanism is in place to track the progress of the stated goals?

A: Regular assessments of progress (the "Global Stocktake") are conducted every five years.

Q: What financial commitment did wealthy countries make to developing countries for climate finance?

A: A commitment to provide $100 billion a year.

Q: How did the agreement differentiate emission reduction expectations between rich and developing nations?

A: Rich countries were expected to make absolute reductions in emissions, while developing countries were to continue enhancing their mitigation efforts.

Q: When should global greenhouse gas emissions reach their peak according to the agreement?

A: Countries should aim for the global peaking of emissions as soon as possible.

Q: What role do national policies play in achieving emission targets?

A: Policies matter significantly; without them, emissions would be much higher than anticipated targets.

US global emissions ranking

the world's largest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases.

US fossil fuel production status

The US is the world's biggest oil and gas producer and a major shipper of fossil fuels to other countries.

Peak carbon emissions year in the US

US carbon emissions peaked in 2007 and have been slowly declining since.

Renewable energy deployment in 2023

the US deployed 40 GW of wind and solar power capacity.

US 2022 energy transition spending

spent $141 billion on the energy transition in 2022.

Major US climate legislation (2022)

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed in 2022, allocating nearly $400 billion over several years to climate initiatives.

International trade challenges

The US has been challenged by China at the broken World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding trade practices related to climate policy.

Headline: US withdrawal from Paris Agreement

"Trump signs order to withdraw US from Paris Climate Agreement for second time" (referencing potential future action).

Headline: Halting climate spending

"Trump orders agencies to halt spending from Biden's climate law" (referencing potential future action).

China's status as a carbon emitter

The world's largest absolute carbon emitter.

Current status of coal plants in China

Still building new coal plants.

China's peak emissions aim

Aims for peak emissions by 2030.

China's role in renewable energy globally

The world's biggest user of and investor in renewable energy.

China's 2022 spending on energy transition

$546 billion spent on the energy transition in 2022.

Renewable energy capacity deployed in China in 2023

Deployed 300 GW of wind and solar capacity in 2023.

Electric vehicle adoption rate in China

Over half of new cars sold in China are electric

China's role in clean energy equipment production

Produces most of the world's clean energy equipment (e.g., 60% of world's electric vehicles, 80% of lithium-ion batteries).

China's primary energy reliance vs. growing source

Relies on coal the most, but renewable energy use is increasing slowly.

Biden Administration Tariffs on Chinese Clean Energy Goods

President Biden imposed significant tariffs on key Chinese clean energy products to protect American industries from what the White House calls unfair, state-subsidized competition.

What are the key points of tension between China and the US regarding climate change?

Competition over the fastest way to global climate change mitigation vs. national economic and "security" goals. The overall bilateral relationship is competitive, impacting climate cooperation.

What specific tariffs did the Biden administration implement on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs)?

A tariff rate increase from 25% to 100% on Chinese EVs, effective in 2024, to counter government subsidies and overcapacity.

What specific tariffs did the Biden administration implement on Chinese EV batteries?

Tariffs on lithium-ion EV batteries and parts increased from 7.5% to 25% in 2024.

What specific tariffs did the Biden administration implement on Chinese photovoltaic solar cells?

Tariffs on Chinese solar cells (whether or not assembled into modules) doubled from 25% to 50% in 2024.

Describe the general stance and impact of the Trump administration regarding US-China competition and climate policy.

Trump's approach involved fluctuating, but generally increasing, competition. He previously imposed tariffs and withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement, actions which critics described as a "major setback" for clean energy goals.

What is the core conflict highlighted by these tariffs in the context of climate goals?

The tariffs, while aiming to protect U.S. jobs and national security interests, may raise prices on climate-friendly goods (like EVs and solar panels), potentially slowing down consumer adoption and conflicting with the overall goal of transitioning to clean energy.

Renewable energy fix

The belief that the problem can be fixed (just/primarily) by switching to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and nuclear energy.

Potential Problem with Renewable Energy Fix(Jevons Paradox):

The observation that increasing the efficiency or reducing the cost of a resource often results in increased overall consumption of that resource.

Potential Problem_Renewable Energy Fix (IPCC Report):

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report emphasizes the need for a reduction in total energy use, not just a switch in sources.

Potential Problem_Renewable Energy Fix (Transition Speed):

A significant obstacle lies in the ability to make the large-scale transition to renewable energy sources quickly enough to avert severe climate impacts.

Technological fix

The idea that we will innovate our way out of climate problems.

Examples of Technological fix

green energy improvements, carbon capture and storage, and geo-engineering projects.

Potential problems with the Technological fix approach

Lack of current technical capacity and uncertainty about if or when we will develop it. The IPCC Report expresses serious worries about the ecological consequences of geo-engineering. There is also uncertainty about if and when these technologies will become profitable.

Market Fix

The idea that climate change can be solved by incentivizing changes through market mechanisms rather than strict regulation.

Core Idea of Market Fix

The belief that we can incentivize our way out of climate change by using economic tools.

Carbon Markets

A mechanism that allows companies or countries to buy and sell permits to emit greenhouse gases, aiming to cap overall emissions efficiently.

Carbon Taxes

A direct tax on the emission of carbon dioxide or an equivalent tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels, intended to internalize the social cost of emissions.

Subsidies/Price Supports (Fossil Fuels/Green Energy)

Government financial support provided to either encourage the use of green energy or discourage/remove support for fossil fuels to alter market behavior.

Potential Problem of Market Fix: Insufficient Investment

A sheer lack of sufficient investment in climate change mitigation or adaptation efforts through market mechanisms alone.

Potential Problem of Market Fix: Carbon Market Failure

The observation that carbon markets have often failed so far to drive the necessary deep emissions cuts.

Potential Problem of Market Fix: Political Opposition to Taxes

The persistence of strong anti-tax politics that makes implementing effective carbon taxes politically difficult.

Potential Problem of Market Fix: Critique of Subsidies

The argument that government subsidies, even for green energy, are a market "distortion" and interfere with free-market principles.

Potential Problem of Market Fix: Unprofitability of Energy Transition

The challenge that parts of the energy transition remain unprofitable (i.e., price minus costs per unit is too low).

Observation: Falling Renewable Prices

A positive development where the prices of renewables have fallen a lot, making them more competitive.

Problem despite falling renewable prices

The profitability of renewables remains too low, especially relative to the continuing high profitability of fossil fuels, limiting investment.