Environmental issues

Question 1

EU

Answer 1

• The forefront of climate change initiatives
• Provides renewable energy grants
• Committed to cuts to emissions of 25% by 2025
• Wide-ranging legislation covering energy efficiency, home insulation, beach
  cleanliness, recycling etc.

Question 2

USA

Answer 2

• Shown global leadership since 2005 and has cut emissions by 10%
• Tripled wind power between 2005 -15 and increased solar energy production by
  1000%
• Obama introduced pollution standards and legally enforceable energy efficiency
  measures
• Trump has indicated he will repeal legislation – he disputes the scientific evidence behind climate change
• Biden has re-joined the Paris Agreement and has committed the US to a low carbon
  future

Question 3

China

Answer 3

• A poor historical record
• Committed to Paris Agreement and has agreed to cut emissions
• More wind turbines than any other nation
• Halted the construction of new coal fired power stations
• The world’s largest investor in renewable technologies
• Any international progress will be meaningless without Chinese co-operation
• Refused to commit to phasing out coal use at 2021 COP26 summit

Question 4

Russia

Answer 4

• Supported Paris Agreement to surprise of many
• Agreement requires them to cut emissions to 30% below 1990 levels – due to deindustrialisation following collapse of communism this will easily be achieved having little impact on Russia’s economy
• Continues to explore Arctic for new oil reserves
• Economy dependent on sales of natural gas to Europe

Question 5

Paris climate agreement

Answer 5

• the first universally signed treaty committing to global action on climate change
• designed to limit temperature increase to 1.5C above pre – industrial levels
• agreed target must not have negative impact on food production
• an obligation for ACs to help finance initiatives in LIDCs est. cost £100 billion annually

Question 6

Issues with the paris climate agreement

Answer 6

• Many scientists wanted countries to agree to freeze global temperature rises,
  rather than limit their increase.
• A report in 2017 stated that China and the US were not meeting their C02
  reduction targets.
• There are no penalties for not meeting targets. Some countries wanted a
  “carbon tax”, but many countries, including the US and China, vetoed this idea.
• There are fears that the new market for renewable energy will be dominated by
  superpower TNCs e.g.: BP is the world’s largest producer of photovoltaic (solar)
  cells.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY: Donald Trump, in a speech in June 2017, withdrew the US
  from the agreement, claiming that “global warming had not been proven” and
  that the agreement was “against US workers interests”. Biden has a much more
  pro-environmental approach