CSS 2024 Solved Current Affairs Past Papers Climate Change and the Big Powers Role
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Question breakdown
Defining climate change and highlighting the role of big powers in mitigating the effects of climate change
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Defining Climate Change
3-Historical analysis of Climate change
4-Explaining the role of Big Powers in climate change
4.1- Positive role
- Setting Ambitious Targets
- EvidenceThe European Green Deal 2019, European Commission
- Investing in Clean Technology
- EvidenceClean Energy Investment Trends 2023, Bloomberg NEF
- Implementing Strong Policies
- EvidenceThe Clean Air Act 2021, EPA
- Funding Global Initiatives
- EvidenceGreen Climate Fund Annual Report 2022
- Promoting International Cooperation
- EvidenceThe Paris Agreement 2015, UNFCCC
4.2- Negative role
- High Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- EvidenceGlobal CO2 Emissions by Region 2022, International Energy Agency IEA
- Insufficient Climate Policies
- EvidenceThe Need for Stronger Climate Policies 2023, World Resources Institute WRI
- Subsidizing Fossil Fuels
- EvidenceFossil Fuel Subsidies and Their Impact 2021, International Monetary Fund IMF
- Delaying Climate Agreements
- EvidenceThe Impact of Delays on Global Climate Agreements 2023, The Guardian
- Promoting Unsustainable Practices
- EvidenceThe Role of Major Economies in Unsustainable Practices 2022, United Nations Environment Program UNEP
5-Critical analysis
6-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Climate change is one of the world s most significant issues today, and the leading countries responsible for the problem are superpowers like the USA, China, and the European Union, which have vast economies and massive GHG emissions hence, their behaviours or lack thereof, make an enormous difference in the climate. These nations have the potential to address such issues through clean technologies, the implementation of stricter environmental legislation, and the adoption of highly rational climate targets. However, they are accused of not going far enough in decarbonization and preferring economic gains over environmental sustainability. It is quite sad to see that decisions taken by such powerful countries not only impact their citizens but also establish standards for other nations to follow. Climate action needs these stakeholders firm commitments to reduce global warming s impacts, save ecosystems and support sustainable development. It is, therefore, compulsory to understand their role and impact in the case of climate change, especially when society is fashioning an equitable international response in the global context.
Climate change refers to significant shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels. As the UN states, Climate change is a threat to humanity s well-being and a challenge to our collective responsibility. It impacts ecosystems, weather, and sea levels worldwide.
Climate change has always been a slow process in the Geographical history of the earth, but recent changes are alarming because of artificial interventions. Not long ago, the Earth went through cycles of warmer and colder climates, such as the Ice Ages. Such changes were caused by volcanic activities, shifts in the earth s axis, etc. However, since the Industrial Revolution in the last part of the 18th and early 19th centuries, human activities have expedited climate change as factories, cars, and power plants emitted CFCs and large volumes of greenhouse gases. This abrupt change caused global temperatures to rise to an unprecedented historical record. Later in the mid-twentieth century, researchers observed that continued elevated human activities were causing the increase in global temperatures. However, establishing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC in 1988 can be considered the starting point since it attracted global awareness of the problem. Since then, climate change has emerged and is at the forefront of policy regulation and scientific inquiry. Climate change has always been a natural occurrence, but the current changes are attributed to man s activities, thus becoming an issue of concern in the modern world.
Big powers, including the United States, China, and the European Union, significantly influence global climate change efforts through several positive roles. Some of these are as follows.
- Setting Ambitious Targets
The first-tier countries are readily adopting the emission reduction targets that form the benchmark for other countries worldwide. For instance, the European Union has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, according to the EU s Green Deal European Commission, 2019 . This commitment does more than a bid to cut emissions it also appeals to other nations to take similar action.
- Investing in Clean Technology
First-world countries spend a lot of money developing clean technologies. The U.S. and China are well ahead in utilizing renewable energy resources like solar and wind power. Bloomberg NEF reveals that China has invested more in the renewable energy market than any other country, thereby reducing costs and enabling more people around the world to have access to clean technologies Bloomberg NEF, 2023 .
- Implementing Strong Policies
Powerful countries like the US and China tend to set severe environmental standards. For instance, the U.S. Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, established strict regulations on air standards, leading to a sharp drop in pollutants EPA, 2021 . Such policies help cut domestic emissions and create a benchmark that other countries can follow.
- Funding Global Initiatives
Highly industrialized nations give significant financial resources to climate funds. The Green Climate Fund, which operates under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, has attracted considerable amounts from major economies such as the U.S. and members of the EU to support developing nations in climate change mitigation and resilience GCF, 2022 .
- Promoting International Cooperation
The big powers contribute to global cooperation, especially by supporting international agreements like the Paris Agreement. The Paris Accord, signed in 2015, was primarily influenced by the negotiations involving the significant players and aimed to prevent the global average temperature from increasing beyond 2 C above the pre-industrial level UNFCCC, 2015 . They are vital in achieving climate targets and having as many countries as possible on board.
- High Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The large players in the world economy are also the major emitters of greenhouse gases that fuel climate change. According to the IEA 2022 , countries such as the United States and China, with their highly developed industrial sectors, are the largest emitters of carbon dioxide. This significant emission further intensifies climate change, with consequences felt in extreme climate changes and the increase in sea level due to increased glacial melting.
- Insufficient Climate Policies
The most significant economies lack proper climate policies, which do not adequately address the problem of climate change. According to the World Resources Institute WRI, 2023 , many policies of global powers are inadequate or often ineffective, affecting progress in controlling emissions and addressing crucial problems such as deforestation. It s great to see the US moving closer to its goal of ratcheting the country s climate efforts. However, this inadequacy is undermining climate action on a global scale.
- Subsidizing Fossil Fuels
Still, most leading countries subsidize fossil fuels that worsen the climate. These fuels are tantamount to coal, oil, and natural gas subsidies, which raise global greenhouse gas emissions and slow the move towards cleaner energy sources IMF, 2021 . Moreover, the US and Canada plan to increase their oil wells by more than 50 by 2030. This is contrary to climate targets at the international level.
- Delaying Climate Agreements
Superpowers also procrastinate important climate decisions, affecting climate change action globally. According to the report by The Guardian, the effects of delays in ratifying the global climate agreements state that significant economies have impeded such agreements as the Paris Agreement by resisting and protracting debates, slowing progress, and watering global climate change commitments.
- Promoting Unsustainable Practices
Regrettably, some major economies still practice unsustainable practices like deforestation and excessive fishing. To this end, the United Nations Environment Program UNEP, 2022 noted that these activities negatively impact the environment, widening the environmental sustainability gap and enhancing the impacts of Climate Change, defeating global Climate Change mitigation and Paris Agreement goals.
Despite their significant role in addressing climate change, big powers often exacerbate the problem. Their high greenhouse gas emissions reflect a failure to leverage their economic and technological capabilities effectively. Insufficient climate policies hinder progress, as weak or poorly enforced regulations do not address critical issues. Continued subsidies for fossil fuels contradict global climate goals, prolonging reliance on harmful energy sources. Additionally, delays in crucial international agreements show a prioritization of national interests over collective action. Promoting unsustainable practices undermines global sustainability efforts, illustrating a troubling gap between their environmental commitments and actual practices.
In conclusion, big powers actions often worsen climate change due to high emissions, inadequate policies, fossil fuel subsidies, and agreement delays. Their support for unsustainable practices further undermines global climate efforts. A shift toward more substantial environmental commitment and effective policies is essential for meaningful climate progress and to mitigate the upcoming drastic impacts of climate change in a timely manner.
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