UK Climate Change Policy and Law - Essay Example

UK Climate Change Policy and Law December 2006 UK Climate Change Policy and Law Introduction Whether man has liked it or not, climate change is here to stay and will continue to affect the environment until man has ceased to exist. Unfortunately, man has yet to fully comprehend this harsh reality brought about by the continued utilisation of its natural resources, right to its very limit. Climate change has been the largest element of environmental change in the globe i (Labatt &White, 2002). Despite the severe and irreversible implications, the issue of climate change has been very elusive in public debates and forums as various interests have been threatened by its prerequisite adaptive and mitigation measures. Recent initiatives, however, have expressed particular interest in this rapidly emerging global issue. Aside from the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom has been continuously pushing efforts in making its effects known and be heard. Together with its various concerned agencies, the United Kingdom has been devising ways and means in providing research and development on climate change, as well as in implementing laws and policies that would alleviate, if not fully eradicate this global issue. At this point in time, the question now lies on whether these policies and laws would be effective enough in effecting change, not only in the United Kingdom, but as well as in the entire world. This paper is aimed at discussing the issue, as well as the policies and laws related to climate change. In the end, it is hoped that this essay would shed some light on some key issues on climate change, and as to how it would affect in the long run. Climate Change Climate refers to the “the average weather experienced over a long period, typically within a span of 30 years” (UK CIP, 2006)ii. From the name itself, the term climate change entails the agro-meteorological changes that have occurred, not only in the UK but as well as on other parts of the globe since the 1900s. Changes that have been taking place are brought about by natural and human causes. Natural causes include changes in temperature, precipitation, rainfall patterns, relative humidity, and other agro-meteorological conditions that are brought about by the interaction of the ocean, atmosphere, changes in the Earth’s orbit, energy from the sun and volcanic eruptions. On the other hand, human causes are mainly influenced by the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur oxides (SOX), nitrous oxide (NOX), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and methane (CH4). As technological innovations progressed, greenhouse gas emission continues to increase as more and more people rely on burning of coal, fuel, oil and gas for main sources of energy. This has been exemplified by products of technology such as: cars, train, factories and machines among others. According to the UK Climate Impacts Programme (2006)iii, about 6.5 billion tonnes of CO2 have been emitted globally each year. Instead of being dissipated outside the Earth’s atmosphere, these greenhouse gases are trapped in the atmosphere, thus altering the global climate. Aside from the burning of coal and oil, change in land use is also a contributing factor in this issue, as about a net annual emission of 1 to 2 billion tonnes of CO2. From pristine forests, lands are being transformed into agricultural areas, subdivisions, factories and other feasible forms of land conversion. Instead of having more trees and grasses to convert the greenhouse gases into utilisable forms, land conversion further increases the rate of greenhouse gas emissions in the planet. According to Labatt & White (2002)iv, the issue of climate change had been prevalent since prehistoric times. Scientists have also attributed this global phenomenon to the extinction of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. It was in the beginning of the 19th century when the issue of climate change was raised and seriously noticed. But it was only in the last 30 years that the impact of these greenhouse gases were seriously noticed, especially when the global temperature increased approximately 0.2ºC per decade (UK CIP Climate Digest, 2006)v. Based from the graph provided by Labatt & White (2002, p. 5)vi, there have been a transition period of fluctuating global temperature in 1968 to 1998, followed by a steady warming trend (Figure 1). Other scenarios and projections that the UK CIP predicted include (2002)vii: 1. The average annual temperature across the UK may increase between 2 to 3.5ºC by 2080. In some years, this figure may increase to about 5ºC. 2. An increase in the heavy winter rainfall events that occur every two years by about 5 to 20%. 3. The relative sea-level around the UK may raise as much as 86 cm. in southern England by 2080. On the other hand, extreme high sea levels will occur more frequently. With this uncontrollable global trend, the only solution that was thought of was to think of a long-term strategy. Whether to reduce the number of greenhouse gas emissions or to resort to alternative sources of energy has been the subject of debate and political problem. As a compromise solution to solve this issue, countries all over the world have joined hands in developing the Kyoto Protocol. Policies Related to Climate Change Kyoto Protocol Under negotiation for more than 10 years, the Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty which was designed to tackle the threat of climate change and to stimulate clean energy investment (GRAIN, 2006)viii. Signed by 180 countries in Kyoto, Japan (December 1997), governments agreed on initial greenhouse gas emission targets for industrialised countries, together with market oriented mechanisms for emission credits granted for clean energy investment. The protocol seeks to control climate change characterised by rapid rise in global temperature, attributed to the excess greenhouse gases that trap heat from escaping in the atmosphere. About more than 60% of these greenhouse gases are attributed to global warming. One of its important provisions is stated in Article 3.3 – Key Provisions on Greenhouse Sinks: Parties shall account for net emissions and sequestration, measured as verifiable changes in carbon stocks, from afforestation, reforestation and deforestation since 1990 towards their targets (Kyoto Protocol, 1997)ix. In this provision, countries are required to meet their emission target commitments, expressed in percentage of base year emissions. On the other hand, countries that do not have emission targets may participate in emission abatement activities through the Clean Development Mechanism. Since 2002, the UK Climate Impacts Programme reported that the full implementation of the first commitment period obligations of this protocol is small. If there are no emission targets being negotiated for subsequent commitment periods, global temperature would only reduce at 0.2ºC by the year 2100. This is attributed to the fact that: only developed countries have carbon reduction targets for the first commitment; emission reduction targets for these countries only comprise of about 5% below the year 1990 levels; and these developed countries are actually obliged to follow as they have to make up for the past, present and future carbon emissions. Critical Assessment of the Kyoto Protocol Advantages Since its ratification, more and more people have been aware of the issues related to climate change and global warming. On the local forefront, UK member nations have established domestic approaches taken directly by government agencies such as: enhancing energy efficiency, removing subsidies for environmentally-damaging activities, promotion of sustainable development, renewable energy, carbon sequestration and other environmentally-friendly technologies (FIELD, 2004)x. As of to date, manufacturing industries have been devising ways and means to reduce their carbon emissions by means of efficiently utilising energy resources. Air conditioner manufacturers have stopped using CFCs in their products and have instead used other alternative means. On the other hand, car manufacturers like Toyota have been engaged in producing hybrid cars. These cars consume less fuel by means of their built-in generators that can substitute for their fuel-consumption. On the other hand, developed countries can earn credits for activities that increase the natural removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the utilisation of “removal units” or natural sinks. These sinks are comprised of the following activities: afforestation, reforestation and deforestation. Disadvantages According to Environment Agency (2005)xi, the UK is still far behind in its climate change national commitments by 2010. Indeed it may have established the European Climate Change Programme, but recent reports suggested that climate change adaptation still lacked of funds towards its full scale implementation. Furthermore, it also lacked the resources and policy regulations to fully implement the Clean Development Mechanism – which allows private entities or governments in industrialised countries to invest in emission-reduction projects in developing countries in order to receive carbon credits which they can count against their emission targets. According to Wikipedia (2006)xii, “to date (October 2006), there is no legislative framework in place within the UK to guarantee year-on-year reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.” It has yet to pass the Climate Change Bill despite strong lobbying from environmental organisations. Overall, the Kyoto Protocol promotes good causes. But reduction in consumption in fuel and oil may trigger political strife against powerful oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the like. Hence, governments try to pass the emission reduction to developing or underdeveloped countries that have monetary constraints which they can lawfully provide. Conclusion Despite its promising causes, the implementation of Kyoto Protocol is yet to be realized in the UK even after almost a decade since its ratification. The UK Climate Change policy and laws is still in question as to date. Undeniably, there have been efforts to uphold regulatory or implementing bodies. But without the necessary local laws and policies, the issue of climate change remains unresolved in the United Kingdom. References Environment Agency. (2005). The Climate is Changing: Time to Get Ready. Rio House: Almondsbury, Bristol. Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development. (2004). International Workshop on the Legal Nature of Emission Reductions. FIELD Background Paper. London: United Kingdom. Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development. (2005). “Impacts of EU and International Law on the Implementation of Carbon Capture and Geological Storage in the European Union.” FIELD. London: United Kingdom. Genetic Resources Action International Network. (2006). Climate Change. Retrieved December 2006 from website: . Labatt, S. & White, R. (2002). Environmental Finance: A Guide to Environmental Risk Assessment and Financial Products. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. UK CIP. (2002). “Climate Change Scenarios for the United Kingdom.” UK Climate Impacts Programme. United Kingdom, 104 pp. UK CIP. (2002). How Global Change. Retrieved December 2006 from website: . UKCIP. (2006). “Climate Digest.” UK Climate Impacts Programme. United Kingdom, 9 pp. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. (2006). Kyoto Protocol. Retrieved December 2006 from website: . Endnotes Read More