Which Countries Send More Delegates to Climate Change Conferences? Analysis of UNFCCC COPs, 1995–2015

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-491
Author(s):  
Ayse Kaya ◽  
Lynne Steuerle Schofield
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Nonlinear Relationship ◽  
Climate Change Negotiations ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
Interest Group Politics ◽  
Group Politics ◽  
Fossil Fuel Emissions

Abstract The size of national delegations at the most critical intergovernmental climate change conferences—the annual gatherings of the Conference of the Parties (COPs) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—vary greatly. The literature has emphasized the importance of national delegation size (NDS) for states’ formal and informal participation in climate change negotiations. To our knowledge, however, this is the first paper to comprehensively examine the determinants of NDS from 1995–2015. The findings highlight a country's resources and its interest in the mitigation of fossil fuel emissions as important determinants of its NDS. In contrast, the evidence for a connection between vulnerability to climate change and NDS is limited. Interest group politics appear more important than civil society or bureaucratic influence in determining NDS. In terms of policy implications, the distance between the country and the COP location is a robust deterrent of larger delegations, and there is a nonlinear relationship between NDS and financial capacity. Further, there are differences across Annex I and non-Annex I countries.

scholarly journals The 21st Century Coal Question: China, India, Development, and Climate Change

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 476
Author(s):  
Kevin J. Warner ◽  
Glenn A. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Community Based ◽  
China And India ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Fossil Fuel Emissions

China and India are not only the two most populous nations on Earth, they are also two of the most rapidly growing economies. Historically, economic and social development have been subsidized by cheap and abundant fossil-fuels. Climate change from fossil-fuel emissions has resulted in the need to reduce fossil-fuel emissions in order to avoid catastrophic warming. If climate goals are achieved, China and India will have been the first major economies to develop via renewable energy sources. In this article, we examine the factors of projected population growth, available fossil-fuel reserves, and renewable energy installations required to develop scenarios in which both China and India may increase per capita energy consumption while remaining on trach to meet ambitious climate goals. Here, we show that China and India will have to expand their renewable energy infrastructure at unprecedented rates in order to support both population growth and development goals. In the larger scope of the literature, we recommend community-based approaches to microgrid and cookstove development in both China and India.

Climate Change, Vulnerability, and Responsibility

Hypatia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 690-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris J. Cuomo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
People Of Color ◽  
Full Responsibility ◽  
Fossil Fuel Emissions ◽  
Do So

In this essay I present an overview of the problem of climate change, with attention to issues of interest to feminists, such as the differential responsibilities of nations and the disproportionate “vulnerabilities” of females, people of color, and the economically disadvantaged in relation to climate change. I agree with others that justice requires governments, corporations, and individuals to take full responsibility for histories of pollution, and for present and future greenhouse gas emissions. Nonetheless I worry that an overemphasis on household and personal‐sphere fossil fuel emissions distracts from attention to higher‐level corporate and governmental responsibilities for addressing the problem of climate change. I argue that more attention should be placed on the higher‐level responsibilities of corporations and governments, and I discuss how individuals might more effectively take responsibility for addressing global climate change, especially when corporations and governments refuse to do so.

scholarly journals Mangrove blue carbon strategies for climate change mitigation are most effective at the national scale

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 20180251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Taillardat ◽  
Daniel A. Friess ◽  
Massimo Lupascu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Blue Carbon ◽  
National Scale ◽  
Nationally Determined Contributions ◽  
Natural Carbon ◽  
Change Mitigation ◽  
Fossil Fuel Emissions

Carbon fixed by vegetated coastal ecosystems (blue carbon) can mitigate anthropogenic CO 2 emissions, though its effectiveness differs with the spatial scale of interest. A literature review compiling carbon sequestration rates within key ecosystems confirms that blue carbon ecosystems are the most efficient natural carbon sinks at the plot scale, though some overlooked biogeochemical processes may lead to overestimation. Moreover, the limited spatial extent of coastal habitats minimizes their potential at the global scale, only buffering 0.42% of the global fossil fuel carbon emissions in 2014. Still, blue carbon plays a role for countries with moderate fossil fuel emissions and extensive coastlines. In 2014, mangroves mitigated greater than 1% of national fossil fuel emissions for countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia and Nigeria. Considering that the Paris Agreement is based on nationally determined contributions, we propose that mangrove blue carbon may contribute to climate change mitigation at this scale in some instances alongside other blue carbon ecosystems.

scholarly journals A Combined Analysis of Sociological and Farm Management Factors Affecting Household Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change in Rural Burundi

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Risper Nyairo ◽  
Takashi Machimura ◽  
Takanori Matsui
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
The Other ◽  
Mixed Data ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
Household Livelihood ◽  
Social Capitals

This paper analyzed the livelihood vulnerability of households in two communes using socio-economic data, where one site is a climate analogue of the other under expected future climate change. The analysis was undertaken in order to understand local variability in the vulnerability of communities and how it can be addressed so as to foster progress towards rural adaptation planning. The study identified sources of household livelihood vulnerability by exploring human and social capitals, thus linking the human subsystem with existing biophysical vulnerability studies. Selected relevant variables were used in Factor Analysis on Mixed Data (FAMD), where the first eight dimensions of FAMD contributed most variability to the data. Clustering was done based on the eight dimensions, yielding five clusters with a mix of households from the two communes. Results showed that Cluster 3 was least vulnerable due to a greater proportion of households having adopted farming practices that enhance food and water availability. Households in the other clusters will need to make appropriate changes to reduce their vulnerability. Findings show that when analyzing rural vulnerability, rather than broadly looking at spatial climatic and farm management differences, social factors should also be investigated, as they can exert significant policy implications.

Communicating climate change in rural coastal communities

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Mycoo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Verbal Communication ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Participatory Communication ◽  
Technology Governance ◽  
Communication Techniques ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
Multiple Variables

Purpose – This study aims to, using Grande Riviere, Trinidad, as a case study, determine levels of climate change knowledge and awareness in the community. Second, it seeks to provide new knowledge on appropriate techniques for developing climate change literacy. Third, it attempts to highlight action needed for messages to be widely communicated and policy implications for government agencies, non-governmental organisations, communication specialists and educators. Design/methodology/approach – A face-to-face questionnaire was administered to all households, focus group meetings were held and a training workshop was conducted. Findings – A key finding is that despite vulnerability to climate change, climate change literacy is low and is influenced by multiple variables such as household income, level of educational attainment, access to technology, governance structures and political commitment to communicating climate change. A major finding is that access to modern communication modes is limited and therefore verbal communication remains the most powerful means of transmitting messages on climate change. Moreover, opportunities exist for the use of participatory and indigenous communication techniques. Practical implications – A major policy conclusion is that a practical blend of traditional and modern technologies, which emphasises verbal communication and promotes innovative participatory communication technologies, including indigenous ones, would be effective in strengthening adaptive capacity. Originality/value – This paper is useful to policymakers, communication specialists, academia and civil society in understanding that there is no universally applicable technology for climate change communication; the type of technology adopted must be tailored to the economic, social and cultural peculiarities of a community.

scholarly journals Young People's Burden: Requirement of Negative CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Hansen ◽  
Makiko Sato ◽  
Pushker Kharecha ◽  
Karina von Schuckmann ◽  
David J Beerling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Young People ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Global Temperature ◽  
Forestry Practices ◽  
Air Capture ◽  
Fossil Fuel Emissions

Abstract. The rapid rise of global temperature that began about 1975 continues at a mean rate of about 0.18 °C/decade, with the current annual temperature exceeding &amp;plus;1.25 °C relative to 1880–1920. Global temperature has just reached a level similar to the mean level in the prior interglacial (Eemian) period, when sea level was several meters higher than today, and, if it long remains at this level, slow amplifying feedbacks will lead to greater climate change and consequences. The growth rate of climate forcing due to human-caused greenhouse gases (GHGs) increased over 20 % in the past decade mainly due to resurging growth of atmospheric CH4, thus making it increasingly difficult to achieve targets such as limiting global warming to 1.5 °C or reducing atmospheric CO2 below 350 ppm. Such targets now require "negative emissions", i.e., extraction of CO2 from the atmosphere. If rapid phasedown of fossil fuel emissions begins soon, most of the necessary CO2 extraction can take place via improved agricultural and forestry practices, including reforestation and steps to improve soil fertility and increase its carbon content. In this case, the magnitude and duration of global temperature excursion above the natural range of the current interglacial (Holocene) could be limited and irreversible climate impacts could be minimized. In contrast, continued high fossil fuel emissions by the current generation would place a burden on young people to undertake massive technological CO2 extraction, if they are to limit climate change. Proposed methods of extraction such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or air capture of CO2 imply minimal estimated costs of 104–570 trillion dollars this century, with large risks and uncertain feasibility. Continued high fossil fuel emissions unarguably sentences young people to either a massive, possibly implausible cleanup or growing deleterious climate impacts or both, scenarios that should provide both incentive and obligation for governments to alter energy policies without further delay.

scholarly journals Global food system emissions could preclude achieving the 1.5° and 2°C climate change targets

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 370 (6517) ◽  
pp. 705-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Clark ◽  
Nina G. G. Domingo ◽  
Kimberly Colgan ◽  
Sumil K. Thakrar ◽  
David Tilman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Food System ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Global Food System ◽  
Global Food ◽  
Fossil Fuel Emissions

The Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting the increase in global temperature to 1.5° or 2°C above preindustrial levels requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Although reducing emissions from fossil fuels is essential for meeting this goal, other sources of emissions may also preclude its attainment. We show that even if fossil fuel emissions were immediately halted, current trends in global food systems would prevent the achievement of the 1.5°C target and, by the end of the century, threaten the achievement of the 2°C target. Meeting the 1.5°C target requires rapid and ambitious changes to food systems as well as to all nonfood sectors. The 2°C target could be achieved with less-ambitious changes to food systems, but only if fossil fuel and other nonfood emissions are eliminated soon.

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