1Oceania, Global WarmingThursday, May 29GEOG 1982Lecture Outline• Oceania’s climate: El Niño• Climate Change: International Agreements• Climate Justice• Effects of Climate Change2El Niño• Irregular climatic event every 2 to 7 years• Changes in circulation of air and water in Pacific Ocean• Also called “ENSO” – El Niño – Southern Oscillation• Sea levels also vary with El Niño341997 Kyoto Protocol• Meeting of UN Framework on Climate Change• Free market approach to reduce greenhouse gases -“cap and trade”• Countries choose level of compliance & method– EU – Emissions Trading Scheme– Canada – offset system– Japan – federal subsidy program• Harsh penalties for non-compliance (at minimum)• Annex I Nations: U.S., Canada, U.K., Japan, etc.• Annex B Nations: developing countries, including India, ChinaWhy the U.S. Didn’t Sign Kyoto• Common but Differentiated Responsibility– Every country shares the burden, but each country implements different programs– U.S. skeptical that Annex B would participate & shied from the prospect of costly penalties• China & India (Annex B)– Increasing use of fossil fuels, increasing emissions– Mostly exempt from reductions in Kyoto (first round) • U.S. thought its own reductions would be outweighed by Annex B’s lack of reductions52007 Bali, 2008 Bangkok• UN Climate Change Conferences• Bali - Roadmap proposed– U.S. didn’t commit, was boo-ed by other countries, finally signed the Roadmap• Bangkok – Expand on Bali Roadmap– Start to drafting a climate pact • halt greenhouse gas emissions increase in 10-15 years• reduce emissions drastically by 2050• Both meetings plan for Copenhagen 2009Climate Justice• U.S. has 4% of world population, emits 21-25% of world’s carbon• Per capita accounting– U.S. 20x higher than India– U.S. 12x higher than Brazil• Account for historical emissions• Offshoring• Survival vs Luxury emissions• Unequal ability to respond /
View Full Document
Unlocking...