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'''Evaluating the effectiveness of international cooperation in addressing climate change is a complex undertaking.''' From the one perspective, the fact that countries are implementing the '''[[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]]''', the '''[[Kyoto Protocol]]''' and the '''[[Paris Agreement]]''', three major international treaties on the topic, would suggest that they have sought to cooperate. From another point of view, if the duty to cooperate requires '''solutions to the climate change problem''', it could be regarded as a failure of countries to effectively cooperate the fact that the actual and impending consequences of climate change are increasing in intensity. In fact, it clearly shows the failure to arrive at a binding agreement providing for effective mitigation, adaptation and other climate measures.
[[File:Climate-Analytics.jpg|thumb|Average warming projected for 2100]]
Among the '''criticism made to the more recent Paris Agreement''' is the fact that the contribution that each individual country should make in order to achieve the worldwide goal is '''determined by all countries individually'''. Also, the country's emissions targets themselves are '''not binding''' as a matter of international law, unlike the ones in the Kyoto Protocol, and there is '''no enforcement''' if a set target is not met.<ref>Article “What Does the Paris Agreement Mean for Climate Resilience and Adaptation?“, retrieved from: http://www.wri.org/blog/2015/12/what-does-paris-agreement-mean-climate-resilience-and-adaptation</ref> This is due to a number of big emitting emerging economies - including China, India and South Africa - being unwilling to sign up to a condition that they felt could hamper their economic growth and development. However, the '''regular review and submission of emission reduction targets will be binding''' and so too will the '''$100 billion fund from developed economies to help emerging and developing nations decarbonise their energy mix'''. The funding will come from public and private, bilateral and multilateral, and alternative sources of finance with the ultimate goal of meaningful mitigation action and transparent implementation by developing countries.<ref>Article “Financing Adaptation”, retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/adaptation/financing_en</ref>
Despite this, as you can see in Picture 2, the predictions are still that '''temperature will rise 2,7ºC by 2100'''<ref>Article “COP21: What does the Paris climate agreement mean for me?”, retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35092127 </ref> even if all the Paris Agreement conditions are met, which is well above the 2ºC threshold. This calls for further measures and raises the question on whether a global power shift from fossil fuels in which fossil fuels would no longer be the cheaper fuel is the only way the global climate change threat could be truly addressed and tackled effectively.
'''<big>Stakeholders</big>'''
- European Union
- International court of justice
- Fossil Fuels' Industry
'''<big>Measures in Place</big>'''
The '''UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development''' comprising a set of '''17 Sustainable Development Goals''' has entered into force in January 2016. In order to achieve these goals the first step is the '''mapping exercise of external policies''', and needs to be flanked by a detailed and comprehensive gap analysis and assessment in order to identify the real gaps that exist between current external policies and programmes and the future ones that should fully include, mainstream and integrate, in a balanced and fair way, the economic, social and environmental pillars of the 2030 Agenda. For this, the EU needs to make civil society organisations in third countries '''real partners in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.''' The [[European Commission]] has drafted a document establishing the '''priorities, policies, funds and other actions''' cover all Sustainable Development Goals and making sure they provide a '''significant contribution''' to their implementation, both within the EU and through EU external action.<ref>“Key European action supporting the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals”, retrieved from: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/swd-key-european-actions-2030-agenda-sdgs-390-20161122_en.pdf </ref>
Furthermore, globally, three '''International Treaties to tackle climate change''' have been established. The [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)]] has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the [[Kyoto Protocol]] and the [[Paris Agreement]]. The ultimate objective of the treaties is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will minimise dangerous human interference with the climate system - currently set in maintaining the temperature rise below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.
<ref>"United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change", retrieved from http://newsroom.unfccc.int/ )</ref>
The '''Conference of the Parties (COP)''' is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP. They '''review the implementation''' of the Convention and any other legal instruments and take decisions necessary to '''promote the effective implementation''' of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements. '''COP 22''' took place in Marrakech in 2016 and marked the transition from the main discussion being developing the [[Paris Agreement]] to how to better implement it. '''COP 23''' will take place in Bonn in November 2018 and will for sure approach the best '''international approach''' to dealing with the opting out of the [[Paris Agreement]] by the United States of America and the '''future of the Agreement'''.
The [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|UNFCCC]] also has an operating entity of the financial mechanism on an ongoing basis - '''The Global Environment Facility'''. This entity also '''manages two special funds''' established by the Parties: the '''Special Climate Change Fund'''; and the '''Least Developed Country Fund'''.<ref>"The Global Environmental Facility", retrieved from: http://www.thegef.org/about-us</ref> Similarly and emphasizing the importance of monetary aid to the most affected countries by climate change, a number of international organizations are actively engaged in administering and/or operating climate change funds, including the '''United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)''', the '''United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)''', and the U'''nited Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR)'''. Also, a number of multilateral development banks have set up dedicated funds to address climate change. The EU is the largest contributor of climate financing and it still aims to scale up climate financing with the goal of 20% of its budget being spent on climate action by 2020. <ref>Article “Financing Adaptation”, retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/adaptation/financing_en</ref>
The '''Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)''' promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. One of its main focuses is to foster and support new sources of growth through innovation, environmentally friendly ‘green growth’ strategies and the development of emerging economies.<ref>"The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development", retrieved from: http://www.oecd.org/about/ </ref> The OECD has issued a conservative estimate that its member states give the fossil fuels' industry support worth $160-200bn each year.<ref>Article “Vulnerable nations call on G20 to end fossil fuel subsidies by 2020”, retrieved from: http://www.climatechangenews.com/2017/04/24/vulnerable-nations-call-g20-end-fossil-fuel-subsidies-2020/</ref> Another major international body on climate change is '''The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)''', responsible for assessing the science related to climate change.
On an European level, '''The European Economic and Social Committee''' is a '''consultative body of the European Union''' and has one specific institution that focuses on sustainability - the [[Sustainable Development Observatory]]. The [[Sustainable Development Observatory]] responds to the need for a '''coherent approach to sustainable development''', including social, environmental and economic dimensions through hearings, conferences, exchange of best practice, local workshops and actions and impact studies.
The [[European Commission]] has developed the '''2050 low-carbon roadmap''', that aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels.<ref>"2050 low-carbon roadmap", retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2050_en</ref> The EU has set itself targets to put itself on the way to achieve the transformation towards a low-carbon economy as detailed in the '''2050 low-carbon roadmap'''. These targets aim to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions progressively up to 2050. The roadmap sets out a '''cost-efficient pathway to reach the 80% target by 2050''' through actions in all main sectors, concluding it is feasible and cost-effective in the long run, as long as innovation and investments are present.
[[File:Targets.png|thumb|Image 3 - Possible 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions in the EU]]
The EU leaders have also established the [[2020 climate and energy package]] in 2007, that have become '''legally binding''' under EU law in 2009. This package is meant to ensure that the EU meets its 2020 targets for energy and climate targets - 20% cut in GHG’s emissions, 20% renewable energy in the EU and 20% energy efficiency improvement. <ref>"2020 climate & energy package", retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2020_en</ref>
Building on the [[2020 climate and energy package]], the EU has also established the '''2030 climate and energy framework''' with the goal of approaching a low carbon economy - 40% cut in GHG’s emissions, 27% renewable energy in the EU and 27% energy efficiency improvement.
<ref>"2030 climate & energy framework", retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2030_en </ref>
Finally, in terms of international cooperation, besides being a key supporter of climate action, international treaties and promoter of international cooperation through funding and policies, the EU contributes to fighting climate change at global level with both '''domestic action''' and '''international cooperation''' through policies, legislation and initiatives for more efficient use of less polluting energy, cleaner and more balanced transport options, more environmentally-friendly land-use and agriculture, more sustainable cities more climate-resilient communities and fewer emissions from all sectors of our economy.<ref>"Adaptation to climate change", retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/adaptation_en</ref>
'''<big>Conclusion</big>'''
<big>'''Questions'''</big>
Can the EU fight climate change within the existing framework?
Should the EU seek to achieve its climate goals through its other policies, e.g. international trade or human rights?
Can we set climate and energy targets for the technologies of the future?
What should the EU stance in the COP23 in Bonn in November 2017 be, taking into account the recent opt out of the [[Paris Agreement]] by the USA?
<big>'''Relevant Links'''</big>
- Article “Five ways to achieve climate justice”, retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jan/12/achieve-climate-justice-human-rights
- Article “COP21: What does the Paris climate agreement mean for me?”, retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35092127
- Article “Vulnerable nations call on G20 to end fossil fuel subsidies by 2020”, retrieved from: http://www.climatechangenews.com/2017/04/24/vulnerable-nations-call-g20-end-fossil-fuel-subsidies-2020/
- Article “Africa speaks up on climate change”, retrieved from: https://www.boell.de/de/node/270716
- Article “Climate change cooperation with non-EU countries”, retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/cooperation_en