Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
6. How has climate change emerged as an intergovernmental political issue? What are the major International agreements related to climate change? Discuss. (250 words)
Reference: files.givewell.org
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of climate change.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in what way climate change emerged as an intergovernmental political issue and write a note on major International agreements related to climate change.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with brief introduction on the rising effects of climate change using relevant data and facts.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
How did the problem of climate change emerge?
Then explain the politics associated with it.
Then present the history of climate change policy and politics; continuing history of political actions, policies, trends, controversies and activist efforts as they pertain to the issue of global warming and other environmental anomalies. Dryzek, Norgaard, and Schlosberg suggest that critical reflection on the history of climate policy is necessary because it provides ‘ways to think about one of the most difficult issues we human beings have brought upon ourselves in our short life on the planet’.
Explain that in the late 20th and 21st century, climate change policy moved away from attempts to mitigate the impact of global warming and towards adapting to unavoidable changes to the human environment. There has also been a shift towards vulnerability based policy for those most impacted by environmental anomalies. Over the history of climate policy, concerns have been raised about the treatment of developing nations and a lack of gender specific action.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way ahead.
