Envisioning futures for climate change policy development: Scenarios use in European environmental policy institutions

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 283-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Bryson ◽  
Jake Piper ◽  
Mark Rounsevell
Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 4894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleem H. Ali ◽  
Kamila Svobodova ◽  
Jo-Anne Everingham ◽  
Mehmet Altingoz

According to the 2020 Climate Change Performance Index, Australia was ranked as the worst-performing country on climate change policy. The country has an ambivalent record of climate policy development as well as implementation, and has been criticized for its inaction. This paper considers why the country has been locked in climate policy “paralysis” through analyzing defining attributes of such a paralysis, and the tentative connections between domestic energy policies and international trade and development. We conducted a media content analysis of 222 articles and identified media narratives in three cases of energy projects in the country involving thermal coal exports, domestic renewable energy storage, and closure of a domestic coal power station. The analysis reveals that policy paralysis in Australian climate change policy can be traced back to the countervailing arguments that have been pervasive around domestic energy security, rural employment and international energy poverty. The political establishment has struggled to develop a sustainable consensus on climate change and the citizenry remains polarized. We also discuss how a “focusing event,” such as a major natural disaster can break the impasse but this is only possible if energy security at home, energy poverty abroad and employment imperatives across the board are clearly delineated, measured and prioritized.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Oliver Lah

<p>Changes in the global climate and the insecure future of the world's energy supply place unprecedented risks and uncertainties before mankind. Massive changes need to occur, driven by effective policies. But what is the ideal climate for change? With a case study on insulation policies for the residential building sector this thesis aims to identify the conditions for a climate for change. This thesis explores the factors that help or hinder change and the structures that enable change and enhance implementation. Within a particular policy area, i.e. residential home insulation, this thesis examines the impacts on policy development and implementation of environmental and resources pressures, the strength of centre-left and green parties and the levels of corporatism in New Zealand and Germany. The case study of insulation policies in New Zealand and Germany has been chosen because of similar policy aspirations and rhetoric in the two countries but differing policy achievements and outcomes. The thesis compares three decades of policy making and implementation in Germany and New Zealand and finds that, if environmental and resource pressures are high, corporatist structures may impact positively on climate change policy development and implementation. It also finds that in pluralist countries centre-left and green party strength may be more important for the success of climate change policies than in corporatist countries.</p>


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald MacDonald

Similar to other policy issues, climate change policy proceeds in a cyclical fashion that proceeds from agenda setting, to policy development, to implementation, and finally to monitoring and review. Agenda setting involves politicians becoming convinced, usually by the science but also by politics and public opinion, that the climate issue deserves a policy response. Policy development involves a great deal of economic and policy option assessments that are winnowed down to a few options that may have “political traction” (i.e. those politicians think might succeed). Policy implementation involves turning policies into law and regulations that industry and individuals will act upon. Policy review, especially monitoring outcomes, is perhaps the most important phase, and for the climate change issue, the ongoing conclusion to date seems to be that more needs to be done, leading to the policy cycle starting over again. But there are also disturbing signs that this “top-down” approach is no longer working, and more “bottom-up” approaches, linked to the energy sector and clean technology, may become important new forces in forging action on climate change.


Author(s):  
Mary Fox ◽  
Christopher Zuidema ◽  
Bridget Bauman ◽  
Thomas Burke ◽  
Mary Sheehan

Policy action in the coming decade will be crucial to achieving globally agreed upon goals to decarbonize the economy and build resilience to a warmer, more extreme climate. Public health has an essential role in climate planning and action: “Co-benefits” to health help underpin greenhouse gas reduction strategies, while safeguarding health—particularly of the most vulnerable—is a frontline local adaptation goal. Using the structure of the core functions and essential services (CFES), we reviewed the literature documenting the evolution of public health’s role in climate change action since the 2009 launch of the US CDC Climate and Health Program. We found that the public health response to climate change has been promising in the area of assessment (monitoring climate hazards, diagnosing health status, assessing vulnerability); mixed in the area of policy development (mobilizing partnerships, mitigation and adaptation activities); and relatively weak in assurance (communication, workforce development and evaluation). We suggest that the CFES model remains important, but is not aligned with three concepts—governance, implementation and adjustment—that have taken on increasing importance. Adding these concepts to the model can help ensure that public health fulfills its potential as a proactive partner fully integrated into climate policy planning and action in the coming decade.


Author(s):  
Michael Jones ◽  
Elizabeth A. Shanahan ◽  
Lisa J. Hammer

In this chapter the authors examine state and local environmental policy. They provide a brief historical but policy-centered background, which pays special attention to the role of federalism in environmental policy. Next they summarize the state of academic and scientific research on state and local environmental policy. The next two sections give the reader an aggregate sense of what substantive environmental policy areas are being studied by reporting the aggregated peer-reviewed publications reported in three databases between 1980 and 2011. In addition, the authors focus on two areas highlighted in the literature: public participation in environmental policy making and climate change policy. Finally, the authors provide a summary of the state of existing literature and offer directions for future research.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Oliver Lah

<p>Changes in the global climate and the insecure future of the world's energy supply place unprecedented risks and uncertainties before mankind. Massive changes need to occur, driven by effective policies. But what is the ideal climate for change? With a case study on insulation policies for the residential building sector this thesis aims to identify the conditions for a climate for change. This thesis explores the factors that help or hinder change and the structures that enable change and enhance implementation. Within a particular policy area, i.e. residential home insulation, this thesis examines the impacts on policy development and implementation of environmental and resources pressures, the strength of centre-left and green parties and the levels of corporatism in New Zealand and Germany. The case study of insulation policies in New Zealand and Germany has been chosen because of similar policy aspirations and rhetoric in the two countries but differing policy achievements and outcomes. The thesis compares three decades of policy making and implementation in Germany and New Zealand and finds that, if environmental and resource pressures are high, corporatist structures may impact positively on climate change policy development and implementation. It also finds that in pluralist countries centre-left and green party strength may be more important for the success of climate change policies than in corporatist countries.</p>


Author(s):  
Lidya Christin Sinaga

As the largest archipelagic state and the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, Indonesia’s commitment to climate change policy is critical. In 2009, Indonesia under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono showed its commitment by setting environmental targets, which included a commitment to reduce deforestation by decreasing the number of forest fires by 20 percent each year. The commitment, however, could not be fully realised. Unsurprisingly, in 2015 for the umpteenth time, a thick haze of smog caused by the forest fires blanketed Indonesia and its neighbours, Malaysia and Singapore. The pollution unavoidably raises uncertainty of Indonesia’s role in advancing the climate change regime. Since 85 percent of emissions in Indonesia come from deforestation, Indonesia’s failure to tackle this problem is a serious issue in relation to its international role. Indonesia’s international commitment and motivation then come into questions, particularly considering the country’s domestic conduct. While not dismissing the positive impacts of its active commitment, this paper evaluates climate change policy in Indonesia during the Yudhoyono administration by applying the context of multi-level governance, namely the impact of international, local government, and non-governmental actors in environmental policy. None should be in any doubt on the point that Yudhoyono has dealt with climate change issues more seriously than any previous president. However, since Indonesia falls behind on its national commitment, this paper argues that Indonesia’s role in establishing climate change regime is more driven by its international stature.AbstrakSebagai negara kepulauan terbesar dan penghasil emisi gas rumah kaca terbesar ketiga di dunia, komitmen Indonesia terhadap kebijakan perubahan iklim sangat penting. Pada tahun 2009, Indonesia di bawah Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono menunjukkan komitmennya dengan menetapkan target untuk mengurangi deforestasi dengan mengurangi jumlah kebakaran hutan sebesar 20 persen setiap tahun. Namun, target ini tidak sepenuhnya dapat diwujudkan. Pada tahun 2015 untuk yang kesekian kalinya, kabut asap tebal yang disebabkan oleh kebakaran hutan menyelimuti Indonesia dan tetangganya, Malaysia dan Singapura. Kasus ini menimbulkan ketidakpastian atas peran Indonesia dalam memajukan rezim perubahan iklim. Mengingat 85 persen emisi di Indonesia berasal dari deforestasi, kegagalan Indonesia untuk mengatasi masalah ini adalah persoalan serius terkait peran internasionalnya, apalagi dengan melihat implementasi pada tataran domestiknya. Meskipun tidak menampik dampak positif dari komitmen aktifnya, tulisan ini mengevaluasi kebijakan perubahan iklim di Indonesia selama masa kepresidenan Yudhoyono dengan menerapkan konteks tata kelola multi-level, yaitu dampak aktor internasional, pemerintah daerah, dan non-pemerintah dalam kebijakan lingkungan. Seharusnya tidak ada yang meragukan bahwa Yudhoyono telah menangani masalah perubahan iklim dengan lebih serius daripada presiden sebelumnya. Namun, melihat minimnya komitmen dan implementasi di tingkat nasional, peran Indonesia dalam membangun rezim perubahan iklim lebih tampak sebagai upaya membangun citra internasional.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 118-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Crowley

While Australia has signed both the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it has failed to ratify the latter. It is nevertheless committed to meeting its +8% Kyoto target for greenhouse gas emissions, and argues that it is on track to doing so. This paper examines Australia's non-ratification politics and greenhouse policy efforts in an attempt to explain its contrary position of resisting Kyoto, yet embracing and pursuing its emission reduction targets. Australia's behavior as a carbon-intensive nation is highly significant in the global context, and this paper focuses on the domestic factors of interests, ideas and institutions, while also considering international factors in trying to explain Australia's non-ratification of Kyoto and climate change policy development. It finds that while ideas and institutions have been modifying influences in the domestic context, political and economic interests have dominated Australia's greenhouse policy.


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