AGENDA:Global Climate Change and Rapid Industrialisation

DPSG INTRAMUN II

UNEP

AGENDA:Global Climate Change and Rapid Industrialisation

Introduction to UNEP

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established in 1972 in order to facilitate a voice for the environment within the United Nations. Its main aims are to work as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. The headquarters is based in Nairobi, Kenya along with extra regional and liaison offices. The UNEP is further divided under different criteria:

• Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA)
• Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI)
• Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE)
• Regional Cooperation (DRC)
• Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC)
• Communications and Public Information (DCPI)
• Global Environment Facility Coordination (DGEF)

UNEP has come into particular prominence in recent years due to the challenges of Climate Change, the issue of ever modernizing weaponry used in warfare,which can damage the environment, as well as dwindling resources increasing the importance of resource efficiency.

Note from the Executive Board

We’re truly glad to present before you the United Nations Environment Programme as a part of the second edition of the DPSG INTRA-MUN’16. Talking about the agenda for the committee, quite a debatable topic, a current issue faced by all the nations and an issue that is aggravating and requires immediate hearing and seeking of solutions. Climate Change, in itself is a multi-dimensional problem with varied causes leading to substantial damage to all life forms on Earth. We hope that this background guide will provide the delegates an insight into the topic and help them frame an overall view of the agenda, but further research is very essential. Delegates are requested to research extensively about their country’s stance on the topic and stick to their country policy during committee proceedings. Hoping for a fruitful committee session, we wish you luck delegates!

Regards

Executive Board (UNEP)

BACKGROUND GUIDE

Climate Change is defined as a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels. Rapid industrialisation can be termed as a major reason for climate change

Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow.

People are experiencing the significant impacts of climate change, which include changing weather patterns, rising sea level, and more extreme weather events. The greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are driving climate change and continue to rise. They are now at their highest levels in history. Without action, the world’s average surface temperature is projected to rise over the 21st century and is likely to surpass 3 degrees Celsius this century—with some areas of the world expected to warm even more. The poorest and most vulnerable people are being affected the most.

Affordable, scalable solutions are now available to enable countries to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient economies. The pace of change is quickening as more people are turning to renewable energy and a range of other measures that will reduce emissions and increase adaptation efforts.

But climate change is a global challenge that does not respect national borders. Emissions anywhere affect people everywhere. It is an issue that requires solutions that need to be coordinated at the international level and it requires international cooperation to help developing countries move toward a low-carbon economy.

Climate Change and Rapid Industrialisation as a challenge:

• From 1880 to 2012, average global temperature increased by 0.85°C. To put this into perspective, for each 1 degree of temperature increase, grain yields decline by about 5 per cent. Maize, wheat and other major crops have experienced significant yield reductions at the global level of 40 megatonnes per year between 1981 and 2002 due to a warmer climate.

• Oceans have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished and sea level has risen.From 1901 to 2010, the global average sea level rose by 19 cm as oceans expanded due to warming and ice melted. The Arctic’s sea ice extent has shrunk in every successive decade since 1979, with 1.07 million km² of ice loss every decade

• Given current concentrations and on-going emissions of greenhouse gases, it is likely that by the end of this century, the increase in global temperature will exceed 1.5°C compared to 1850 to 1900 for all but one scenario. The world’s oceans will warm and ice melt will continue. Average sea level rise is predicted as 24 – 30cm by 2065 and 40-63cm by 2100. Most aspects of climate change will persist for many centuries even if emissions are stopped

• Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased by almost 50 per cent since 1990

• Emissions grew more quickly between 2000 and 2010 than in each of the three previous decades.

Carbon Emission Contributions by Country

The world's countries contribute different amounts of heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere. The table below shows data compiled by the Energy Information Agency (Department of Energy), which estimates carbon dioxide emissions from all sources of fossil fuel burning and consumption. Here we list the 20 countries with the highest carbon dioxide emissions (data are for 2011, the most recent year available).

2011 Total Emissions Country Rank / Country / Emissions from the Consumption of Energy 2011 Total Carbon Dioxide (Million Metric Tons) / 2011 Per Capita Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Consumption of Energy (Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide per Person)
1. / China / 8715.31 / 6.52
2. / United States / 5490.63 / 17.62
3. / Russia / 1788.14 / 12.55
4. / India / 1725.76 / 1.45
5. / Japan / 1180.62 / 9.26
6. / Germany / 748.49 / 9.19
7. / Iran / 624.86 / 8.02
8. / South Korea / 610.95 / 12.53
9. / Canada / 552.56 / 16.24
10. / Saudi Arabia / 513.53 / 19.65
11. / United Kingdom / 496. 80 / 7.92
12. / Brazil / 475.41 / 2.41
13. / Mexico / 462.29 / 4.07
14. / South Africa / 461.57 / 9.42
15. / Indonesia / 426.79 / 1.73
16. / Italy / 400.94 / 6.57
17. / Australia / 392.29 / 18.02
18. / France / 374.33 / 5.73
19. / Spain / 318.64 / 6.82
20. / Poland / 307.91 / 8.01

The picture that emerges from these figures is one where—in general—developedcountries and major emerging economy nations lead in total carbon dioxide emissions. Developed nations typically have high carbon dioxide emissions per capita, while some developing countries lead in the growth rate of carbon dioxide emissions. Obviously, these uneven contributions to the climate problem are at the core of the challenges the world community faces in finding effective and equitable solutions.

Analysis of the Graph

It is very evident that USA, People’s Republic of China, Russian Federation, India and Japan have to take major steps to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and have a major role to play as far as temperature rise is concerned. Together, they contribute to over half of the total carbon dioxide emissions of the world which is staggering. While these nations regularly give statements about steps they plan to take to reduce carbon emissions, very little has been done as far as concrete action and legally binding commitments are concerned.

In their defence, it is also important to understand that industrialization, population pressure and other factors play a major role in preventing these nations from fulfilling various commitments or ratifying various protocols and conventions which call for steps to reduce carbon emissions. There has to be a framework, which takes into consideration various inhibiting factors of this sort while also ensuring strict commitments which are legally binding for all member nations. E.g. India will carry out so and so action towards reducing emissions from automobile exhausts by so and so year which will thereby reduce its carbon emissions by x%. It is evident that getting all countries to agree to the same set of commitments is not practically feasible and hence, countries must be made to agree to different sets of commitments probably in various different clusters based on various parameters.

Possible Solutions

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of this era, and it is up to the international community to come together in order to implement short-term and longterm solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Only through cooperation and innovation will the international community be able to solve this important problem. One of the most comprehensive frameworks to combat climate change is still the Kyoto Protocol, despite ongoing difficulties with its ratification. The Protocol outlines three specific mechanisms that signatory nations must comply with in order to mitigate the effects of climate change:

• Emissions Trading: This mechanism allows nations with excess carbon credits to sell those credits to nations who have not yet met their emissions targets. While the so-called carbon market is indeed a valuable and innovative approach toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, there are still issues with the mechanism that must be solved.

• Clean Development: This mechanism involves the creation of emissions -reduction projects in developing countries, which can earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits. These CER credits can then be used on the carbon market.

• Joint Implementation: This mechanism allows countries to work together in order to create sustainable projects in return for emission reduction units. Together, these three mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol have allowed most nations to cut carbon emissions by a total average of 5%. These three mechanisms represent three areas in which the United Nations and the international community can come together to develop possible solutions.

Timeline for International Action on Climate Change

February, 2016 – COP 22 is taking place now and countries must reach an immediate solution related to rising global temperatures, climate change and global warming.

2015 – COP 21 Meet in Paris results in no concrete agreements or solutions. The world is at peril and decisions have to be reached at the earliest.

2014 – COP20/CMP10 Meet at Peru in Lima. Further discussions on climate change and global temperature rise take place.

2013 - Key decisions adopted at COP19/CMP9 include decisions on further advancing the Durban Platform, the Green Climate Fund and Long-Term Finance, the Warsaw Framework for REDD Plus and the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage.

2012 - The Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol is adopted by the CMP at CMP8. Several decisions taken opening a gateway to greater ambition and action on all levels.

2011 — The Durban Platform for Enhanced Action drafted and accepted by the COP, at COP17.

2010 — Cancun Agreements drafted and largely accepted by the COP, at COP16.

2009 — Copenhagen Accord drafted at COP15 in Copenhagen. This was taken note of by the COP. Countries later submitted emissions reductions pledges or mitigation action pledges, all non-binding.

2007 — IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report released. Climate science entered into popular consciousness. At COP13, Parties agreed on the Bali Road Map, which charted the way towards a post-2012 outcome in two work streams: the AWG-KP, and another under the Convention, known as the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action Under the Convention.

2005 — Entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. The first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (MOP 1) takes place in Montreal. In accordance with Kyoto Protocol requirements, Parties launched negotiations on the next phase of the KP under the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP). What was to become the Nairobi Work Programme on Adaptation (it would receive its name in 2006, one year later) is accepted and agreed on.

2001 — Release of IPCC's Third Assessment Report. Bonn Agreements adopted, based on the Buenos Aires Plan of Action of 1998. Marrakesh Accords adopted at COP7, detailing rules for implementation of Kyoto Protocol, setting up new funding and planning instruments for adaptation, and establishing a technology transfer framework.

1997 — Kyoto Protocol formally adopted in December at COP3.

1996 — The UNFCCC Secretariat is set up to support action under the Convention.

1995 — The first Conference of the Parties (COP 1) takes place in Berlin.

1994 — UNFCCC enters into force.

1992 — The INC adopts UNFCCC text. At the Earth Summit in Rio, the UNFCCC is opened for signature along with its sister Rio Conventions, UNCBD and UNCCD. More about the two other Rio Conventions: UNCBD and UNCCD.

1991 — First meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) takes place.

1990 — IPCC's first assessment report released. IPCC and second World Climate Conference call for a global treaty on climate change. United Nations General Assembly negotiations on a framework convention begin.

1988 — The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is set up. More about the science of climate change.

1979 — The first World Climate Conference (WCC) takes place.

Conclusion

All in all, it is imperative to understand that the committee needs to come up with feasible solutions which are universally acceptable to all stakeholders. The major issue with a lot of the conventions and agreements that have been reached earlier is that they have not been acceptable to a lot of parties who are major players as far as carbon emissions are concerned.

The committee needs to have a discussion either on the framing of an altogether new and universally acceptable agreement or different sets of agreements for low and high carbon emitter countries or some other alternative which can ensure that all countries can actively contribute towards preventing carbon emissions and temperature rise. Even calling for amendments to the Kyoto Protocol and other existent conventions, agreements and documents can be a suitable step. Either way, all such changes must be as far as possible universally acceptable to all stakeholders.

Additionally, it is important to look at the different gases and constituents which contribute towards carbon emissions and come up with possible solutions which will ensure that there can either be alternatives to these gases or constituents or their emissions can be reduced. The best way to solve this entire issue is to approach it in a step by step manner trying to sort out the root causes for carbon emissions followed by other steps which countries must take and commit to.

Questions A Resolution Must Answer

• Emissions to start limiting them and controlling global temperature rise?
• Apart from carbon emissions, what are othermajor causes for climate change andwhat steps can be taken in order to control them?
• Should there be separate parameters and targets by nations with heavy carbon emissions as opposed to the others?
• Should various contents of the Cancun Agreements, Kyoto Protocol, the UNFCCC and other conventions be made legally binding so that various member nations adhere to them? If yes, then which ones?
• What are the different factors that are contributing towards climate change and global temperature rise and how can they be tackled?
• What commitments need to be made on a global scale so as to reduce climate change?
• What parameters should be followed by countries with very high carbon emissions?

Bibliography and Additional Research Links

 .nse.cn/files/BG_UNEP_cli mate- change%5B1%5D.pdf ms/6034.php  php php _and_impacts/science/eachcountrys-share-of-co2.html#.VjAreiuC3IU

.c2es.org/international/history- international- negotiations/2020- targets