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The Politics of Climate Change

The Politics of Climate Change. Peter Newell CSGR University of Warwick School of Development Studies University of East Anglia P.J.Newell@warwick.ac.uk. The Politics of Climate Change. Science: consensus and uncertainty Scale of problem: dispersed, local-global

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The Politics of Climate Change

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  1. The Politics of Climate Change Peter Newell CSGR University of Warwick School of Development Studies University of East Anglia P.J.Newell@warwick.ac.uk

  2. The Politics of Climate Change • Science: consensus and uncertainty • Scale of problem: dispersed, local-global • Potential costs involved • Equity: North-South • Equity: Intergenerational • Power of opposition • Unprecedented level of cooperation required

  3. The Politics of Climate Change • Disputes over responsibility: Burden of action, funding • Disputes over institutions: GEF, fines for non-compliance? • Disputes over solutions: Role of technology • Disputes over solutions: Role of markets

  4. Science and knowledge • Consensus always fragile especially when the stakes are high • Organised science makes a difference; epistemic communities • Have to deflect challenges to their authority, protect their access to policy-makers • Other knowledge forms equally key: economics, technology

  5. Role of North-South politics • Can lead to stalemate over responsibility for causes and burden for taking action • Sensitive issue of future contribution of NICs and LDCs: New approaches? Staged commitments, multi-track negotiating processes • Requires careful coalition building and innovative issue-linkages to issues of aid, trade, debt • Contests over appropriate policy tools: use of aid, export credit screening, which institution to oversee implementation • Splits between North-South opens up possibilities for ‘winning coalitions’ • Taking equity seriously: Not a technical issue about efficiency and savings. Sensitivities about vulnerability, obligation and justice

  6. Justice and Climate Change • Those who bear the worst effects contribute to the problem least • Those who contribute most are best placed to adapt • Vulnerability cuts across nations: Poverty, gender and class • The South as Sink: Solutions which displace problem to the global South

  7. Supportive role of private sector • Experts through experience • Command of technologies and production processes for delivering environmental goods • Contribution to the economy • Potential veto coalition, non compliance • Potential drivers of standards within regimes: Exporting environmentalism • Private regimes and investment flows often have greater ecological significance than rules set at the global level • Leading by example (STEPS) • Street level bureaucrats

  8. Vocal campaigning by civil society • Support positive and ambitious policy positions; strengthen position of sympathetic elements within government • Mobilise public support around strong treaties • Expose recalcitrants in negotiations; maintain pressure • Expose non-compliance at national level • Also provide expertise, sit on delegations • Magnify voice of weaker and most affected developing countries

  9. The Rise of Civil Regulation • Frustration with pace and progress of inter-state negotiations • Direct targeting of key polluters • Plays on strengths and weaknesses of business • Manifested in range of liberal and critical forms of governance/regulation • Linked to corporate accountability movements, anti-globalisation and Climate Justice groups

  10. Liberal Civil Regulation • CSC: Labelling and certification • Business case for climate change: Climate Group, Pew Centre • GHG Registry: Pew, WBCSD, WRI, WWF • Project specific collaborations • Responsible Investor: USS Pension Fund campaign, good corporate governance • Working with: Persuasion, (Leggett and insurance industry); UNEP Statement

  11. Critical Civil Regulation • Consumer boycotts (Exxon etc) • Company-specific campaigns (Stop Esso) • Shareholder Activism (CERES and ICCR): Threats of Divestment • Targeting banks: JP Morgan Chase: Assessing financial risks in loan evaluations • Direct Action: Rising Tide, Greenpeace (Drax etc) • Resistance to market mechanisms: Voluntarism, Chicago Carbon Exchange, CDM, emissions trading • Broader critique of limits of marketisation

  12. Conclusions • Addressing blind-spots in climate governance: Beyond the public • Policy coherence and integration • Building new cross-sectoral coalitions • Working at all levels: Local – Global • Change at material, institutional and cultural level • Personal responsibility plus broader political change

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