International climate agreements
Big idea: Climate change is a global problem requiring international cooperation. Key agreements include the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement.
Key agreements timeline
- 1992 — UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Established the goal of stabilising GHG concentrations. Nearly universal membership.
- 1997 — Kyoto Protocol: Set binding emission reduction targets for developed countries. Clean Development Mechanism allowed carbon trading. US never ratified.
- 2015 — Paris Agreement: Goal to limit warming to 1.5–2°C above pre-industrial. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from all countries. Regular review cycles.
The Paris Agreement in detail
- Goal: Limit warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C
- NDCs: Each country sets its own targets (nationally determined contributions)
- Ratchet mechanism: Targets must be strengthened every 5 years
- Climate finance: Developed countries help fund action in developing countries
- Transparency: Countries report progress and undergo review
The Paris Agreement is bottom-up (countries set own targets) unlike Kyoto which was top-down (targets imposed on countries). This got more countries to participate but targets may be insufficient.
Exam tip: Be ready to evaluate these agreements — what worked, what didnt, and why international cooperation on climate is so challenging.
Environmental value systems and climate
Big idea: Different environmental value systems (EVSs) lead to different approaches to climate change — from technocentric optimism to ecocentric lifestyle change.
EVS approaches to climate change
Technocentric approaches
- Technology will solve the problem
- Focus on CCS, nuclear, geoengineering
- Economic growth can continue
- Market solutions (carbon trading)
- Human ingenuity will adapt
Ecocentric approaches
- Need fundamental lifestyle change
- Focus on reduced consumption
- Question economic growth model
- Local, community solutions
- Live within planetary boundaries
How EVSs influence responses
- Cornucopian: Climate change is manageable; technology will fix it; may even be beneficial
- Environmental manager: Accept science; support moderate regulation and market solutions
- Soft ecologist: Need systemic change; promote renewable energy, sustainable lifestyles
- Deep ecologist: Radical reduction in consumption; prioritise nature over economic growth
Exam tip: EVS questions are common in essays. Show you understand that different worldviews lead to different preferred solutions, and evaluate both perspectives.