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on Climate Change
UNA-GB Model UN Topic Guide
COMMITTEE DESCRIPTION
Climate change is widely recognized today as one of mankinds greatest challenges in the 21st
Century. As it is not restricted to national boundaries, fighting it through actions on the
international level is critical.
In June 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, The Earth Summit,
was held in Rio de Janeiro. In attendance were 172 governments and 2,400 representatives of nongovernmental organizations; together they examined concerns about climate change. As a result of
the Earth Summit, an international environmental treaty was produced: the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The ultimate objective of this Convention and any related legal instruments that the
Conference of the Parties may adopt is to achieve, in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the Convention, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the
climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow
ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not
threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.
UNFCCC, Article 2
The treaty has provided an institutional structure to promote further research and to initiate
international action on the issue. The decisive product of this treaty was an action plan known as
the Kyoto Protocol, which is presently in effect and will be until 2012.
Although the Kyoto Protocol successfully launched the first globally coordinated effort to combat
international climate change, it has also met many criticisms concerning its effectiveness. In
December 2009, member states of the UNFCCC will convene in Copenhagen to settle controversies
already existing in the current system and to construct an improved strategy to tackle climate change
more effectively in the future.
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Global average sea level has increased 1.8 mm per year since 1961 and 3.1 mm since 1933
An increase in the most intense tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic
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Many scientists agree that anthropogenic GHG emissions are still growing
despite 15 years of international negotiations under the UNFCCC. Also, while some greenhouse
gases trap heat in the atmosphere, others have a cooling effect; the combined effect is referred to as
the net effect. These scientists assert that the net effect on the Earths energy balance is a general
warming of the Earth; regardless of GHG such as aerosols that have a cooling effect. The vast
amount and long life of carbon dioxide disturbs the balance in the atmosphere and is not mitigated
by the release of cooling GHG.3 In addition, releasing more cooling GHG is problematic because
such gases are primarily not man-made.
While a majority of scientists accept the above observations on the climate, a small number of other
scientists remain hesitant to agree. These opponents contend that the IPCC observations lack proof
and some of the data needs to be reexamined. According to their studies, warming of the climate
has been an entirely natural occurrence.
A simplistic explanation and an equally simplistic solution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNIlWKbacdA
History of Climate Research4
Early observations of climate change date back to 1896 when
effects of GHG in the Earths atmosphere became visible.
However, further research was only carried out late in the 20th
century. In the 1960s, the best case computer climate
models estimated that the average global temperature would
rise 35.2 F to 39.2 F by the year 21005 ; this would most
likely result in increased heat-related deaths, wildfires, storm
effects, rising sea levels, etc. Other evidence found in the
1960s and 70s confirmed that concentrations of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere were increasing.
This discovery prompted first climatologists, then others, to
press for action but it took years for the international
community to respond. The chief reason for delayed action
was interestingly correlated to the very cause of climate
change: the question of development.
BBC News4
emissions: gases that are released from activity
net: the sum total
energy balance: the amount of heat and energy produced and consumed
mitigate: to lessen the strength of
model: a simulation through computer calculations, in a lab, etc.
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Specific mechanisms were put into practice by the Protocol: emissions trading
clean development mechanism and joint implementation. The goals of these mechanisms are to:
Stimulate sustainable development through technology transfer and investment
Help countries with Kyoto commitments to meet their targets by reducing emissions or
removing carbon from the atmosphere in other countries in a cost-effective way
Encourage the private sector and developing countries to contribute to emission
reduction efforts8
Flexible Mechanisms
Emission Trading
Emission trading is also referred to as carbon trading because CO2 is the primary GHG that is being
traded. Within this so called carbon market, the emission trading mechanism is designed to
provide flexibility to countries that have to meet emission targets.
One type of emissions trading is the sale or purchase of emission units; a country over its targets can
purchase surplus GHG emission units that other countries have to spare.
Another type of emission trading is carbon offsetting. One example of offsetting is reforestation.
As part of the growing process, plants consume carbon dioxide (CO2); growing forests are net CO2
sinks - they generally absorb more CO2 than they give off. Therefore, by planting forests, a country
can reduce its net CO2 because the trees will reabsorb some of the gas produced by human activity.
Clean Development Mechanism
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows a developed state to earn carbon credits to help
with meeting its emission targets if it carries out or promotes projects in a developing state. These
projects, which are introduced in the form of foreign direct investment, generally include the
construction of environment-friendly energy plants and may include setting up solar panels,
installing energy-efficient boilers, etc.9
This mechanism is designed to benefit both developed and developing countries; developed states
can carry out their obligations in a flexible and sometimes more economical way, meanwhile also
stimulating sustainable development in developing states.
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Joint Implementation
The Joint Implementation (JI) system is similar to CDM. However, JI projects
are carried out by a developed country in another developed country. Through these projects one
developed country helps another reduce its GHG emissions.
These projects take various forms; one example is the replacement of a coal-fired power plant with a
more energy-efficient cogeneration plant.10 JI projects help the countries carrying out the projects
to meet their emission targets flexibly and cost-efficiently while host countries benefit from
increased foreign investment and technology transfer.
CHALLENGES OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
Criticism of the flexible mechanisms
Although the three mechanisms for reducing emissions have potential, they have not been enough
to achieve the expected outcomes.
Investors argue emission trading carries too much risk. One question that emerges is how long are
the mechanisms going to last? Projects applicable under the Kyoto Protocol require a long time,
and as the protocols expiration date comes closer, investors become increasingly reluctant to
participate in the flexible mechanisms designed under the protocol because they may not gain
enough financial benefit.
Criticism of the emission targets
The emission targets are also often criticized. For instance, critics assert that Russias emmission
reduction targets are too low to help reduce climate change and are consequently meaningless.
Russias targets are relaxed enough for the state to get around its obligations with much action11.
Many environmentalists and scientists have also noted that the mechanisms do not necessarily
reduce emissions globally.12
Participation
The Kyoto Protocol was drafted after a long deliberation; disagreements over development,
reporting, and accountability, and a lack of scientific consensus made it difficult to come to an
agreement. Also, in the process of establishing the specific terms of the Protocol, emissions by
worlds largest GHG emitters were not fully addressed.
The US, Russia, China and India are accountable for half of todays GHG emissions, but are
practically free of any constraints to reduce their net carbon emissions. The U.S., the largest emitter
of CO2, has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol; China and India, as developing nations do not face any
emission targets.
cogeneration plant: combined heat and power plant that emits less wasted heat by applying it to local uses
consensus: agreement amongst all parties
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Next steps15
A key goal of the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen is for diplomats and
representatives around the globe to set up a concrete agenda for the committee to follow on climate
change. In 2012 the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol expires. While in
Copenhagen, the committee must reexamine the steps taken thus far to respond to climate change,
to set the agenda for the next interval and to establish a new commitment among nations.
In December 2008 at the Climate Change Conference in Bali, member-states of the UNFCCC
unanimously agreed that efforts to fight climate change needed to move beyond the existing
commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and adopted the Bali Roadmap, which calls for a longterm strategy to fight climate change in a forward looking mode.16 The Bali Action Plan is the
chief ingredient of the Bali Road Map and sets out a new negotiating process with the aim of
completing this by the end of 2009 at the upcoming conference in Copenhagen.17
The looking forward mode of the Bali Road Map:
urges developed states to commit much more to the climate change regime by cutting as much
as a quarter of their total GHG emissions.18
recommends that developing states should take a bigger role in fighting climate change by
meeting measurable, reportable and verifiable steps.19
Negotiations are still taking place on these issues.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Strengthening the Kyoto Protocol
Regardless of the criticisms of the mechanisms created under the Kyoto Protocol, there is general
agreement that the UNFCCC has successfully raised awareness of the dangers of climate change and
the need to address the issue at the global level. In considering a resolution, delegates should
consider:
Emission targets and mechanism weaknesses
Participation and commitment levels
New evidence from the IPCC and other sources
Market incentives and funding for compliance or adaptation related programs
international registration of actions taken by national governments
recognition and visibility of successful actions
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QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
What actions can individuals, industries and governments take to reduce carbon emissions?
Does your government support the Kyoto Protocol? What actions has it taken to address
climate change?
Would your government support an amendment like that proposed by Argentina? Should
developing countries have any obligations regarding the Protocol?
How would emission targets affect your nation? What are some of the risks that are
preventing countries from engaging in emission trading more actively?
how can the genuine intentions of the UNFCCC be achieved? Can the deficiencies of the
mechanisms be overcome? How?
Highlights Of The Fourth IPCC Assessment Report, Yuwei Zhang, UN Chronicle Online Edition
http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2007/issue2/0207p08.htm
Ibid.
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
http://www.rff.org/rff/News/Features/Beyond-Kyoto.cfm
12
13
Trading Kyoto, Glen P. Peters and Edgar G. Hertwich, Nature Reports Climate Change: 2008
http://www.nature.com/climate/2008/0804/full/climate.2008.25.html
14
China's National Climate Change Programme. Embassy of the People's Republic of China: 2008
<http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/zyxw/t332711.htm>.
15
16
17
18
19
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