Inter-governmental action

<<–2/”>a >h2>

• IPCC
• UN Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), 1992
• Agenda 21
  • An action plan of UN relating to Sustainable Development adopted at the Earth Summit, 1992
• UNFCCC
• Kyoto Protocol

IPCC

• 1988 by World Meteorological Organisation and UNEP
• tasked with reviewing and assessing the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of Climate change
• Nobel Prize in 2007
• The IPCC does not carry out its own original research, nor does it do the work of monitoring climate or related phenomena itself.
• A main activity of the IPCC is publishing special reports on topics relevant to the implementation of the (UNFCCC)
• Till now, it has released four assessment reports (1990, 1995, 2001, 2007)
• Fifth assessment report is due in 2014

UNFCCC

1992 at the Rio Summit.

194 members. Secretariat at Bonn.

Parties to UNFCCC are classified as:

• Annex I countries – industrialized countries and economies in transition
• Annex II countries – developed countries which pay for costs of developing countries
• Developing countries.

Tarawa Climate Change Conference

• In the lead up to COP16, the leaders of the world’s most climate-change vulnerable countries met in Kiribati in November 2010
• Ambo Declaration was adopted
  • It calls for more and immediate action to be undertaken to address the causes and adverse impacts of climate change.

CoP-16/CMP-6, Cancun

COP-16 President: Patricia Espinosa, Mexico’s foreign secretary

COP-17 will be held in Durban

Issues

• Forestry issues and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (Redd) plus
• The developed countries are pushing for transparency from countries where they will fund Climate Change Mitigation.
  • The assessment of Carbon Emission mitigation for developing countries is right now through domestic Communication but is subject to international consultation and analysis. This push for transparency is a major contentious issue.
• Fast-track finance: $ 30 bn had been committed at CoP-15. A large part of this funding is yet to come through.

Goals

Agreements Reached

• The outcome of the summit was an agreement, not a binding treaty, which calls on rich countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as pledged in the Copenhagen Accord, and for developing countries to plan to reduce their emissions, to limit Global Warming to less than 2 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels.
• There should be no gap between the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in December 2012, and the second phase.
• The agreement calls on the developed countries to “raise the level of ambition of the emission reductions to be achieved by them individually or jointly, with a view to reducing their aggregate level of emission of Green House Gases”
• Allows flexibility in choosing the Base Year for setting emission reduction targets
• Emissions trading and the project based mechanism under the KP shall continue to be available to Annex 1 parties as a means to meet their quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives.
• The agreements recognize that in all climate change related action, Human Rights must be respected. They also recognise the need to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, including youth and persons with disability, and call for Equality/”>Gender Equality and effective participation of Women and indigenous people in effective action on all aspects of climate change.
• The BASIC group softened the three demands it had before the talks began
  • Necessity of a second commitment period to the Kyoto Protocol
  • Need to accelerate disbursement under the fast start finance in the form of new and additional Resources through a multilaterally supervised mechanism
  • Continued dialogue on IPRs as part of the technology development and transfer issues.
• REDD is a part of the package and proposed mitigation actions include conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests.
  • REDD is a set of steps designed to use market/financial incentives in order to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from deforestation and forest degradation. Its original objective is to reduce GHGs but it can deliver ‘co-benefits’ such as Biodiversity-2/”>Biodiversity conservation and POVERTY alleviation
  • REDD+ calls for activities with serious implication directed towards the local communities, indigenous people and forests which relate to reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation. It goes beyond deforestation and forest degradation and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks
• A Cancun Adaptation Framework has been proposed to strengthen and address implementation of action, and various kinds of assessments, apart from R&D and host of other issues.
• Green Climate Fund The fund will be designed by a transitional committee, with 15 members from the developed countries and 25 from the developing nations.
• Pledge by the developed countries to provide $100 bn annually till 2020.

Conclusion

• UNFCCC secretary-general Christian Figueres emphasised that the main achievement of the Cancun meet has been to restore some degree of faith in the multilateral process.
• The agreements don’t mention any reduction targets.
• Though the agreements recognize the need to reduce the GHG emissions and curb the increase in global Average temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, in the absence of any firm target, this could be an inadequate and vague provision
• Bolivia has rejected the agreement, saying that it won’t support agreement without binding emission cuts.
• In a sense, the summit was both a major step forward as well as a failure
• It was a step forward because in recent years climate change negotiations had stumbled and this meeting helped overcome that
• It was a failure because it failed to reach an agreement for binding restrictions that are required to avert global warming.
• There was no agreement on how to extend the Kyoto Protocol, or how the $100 billion a year for the Green Climate Fund will be raised or whether developing countries should have binding emissions reductions.

Under the Cancun Agreements, the targets set by industrialised countries for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are recognised as part of the multilateral process. They must now draw up low-carbon development plans and strategies and also report their inventories annually. In the case of developing countries, actions for emissions reduction will be recognised officially; a registry will record and match their mitigation actions to finance and technology support from rich countries; and they will report their progress every two years. These form a good preamble for target-setting for all member-countries under an agreed framework at Durban next year.

Trivia

• A large amount of energy used during the conference came from renewable sources
• Around 10000 trees and bushes will be planted in Cancun

Role of India and its relevance

• India can act as a mediator between the developing and developed countries
• India’s approach to climate change negotiations has been governed by three factors – how to protect the country’s economic interest and environment agenda, to use climate change as a tool of global diplomacy and consolidate its position on world forums.
• At Cancun, India was responsible for having made five insertions into the Agreement
  • In the section on shared vision, the figure of 50 pc has been dropped from identifying a global goal for substantially reducing emissions by 2050
  • The phrase access to sustainable development has been introduced in the context of working towards identifying a time-frame for global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions based on the best available scientific knowledge
  • International Consultation and Analysis (ICA) finds mention the agreements. It proposes to enhance the reporting for the non-Annex 1 parties or developing countries on mitigation  action and its effects and support received
• At Cancun, India also proposed legally binding emission cuts.

 ,

Intergovernmental action is the act of two or more governments working together to achieve a common goal. This can be done through a variety of means, including the formation of international organizations, the signing of intergovernmental agreements, and the establishment of intergovernmental relations.

International organizations are groups of governments that have come together to address common issues. There are many different types of international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. These organizations can play a vital role in promoting cooperation between governments and in addressing global challenges.

Intergovernmental agreements are formal agreements between governments. These agreements can cover a wide range of issues, such as trade, security, and the environment. Intergovernmental agreements can help to promote cooperation between governments and to resolve disputes.

Intergovernmental relations are the interactions between governments. These interactions can take place at a variety of levels, including bilateral, regional, and multilateral. Intergovernmental relations can be formal or informal, and they can be cooperative or conflictual.

Intergovernmental organizations can be classified into a number of different types. One common way to classify them is by function. There are international organizations that focus on Economic Development, international security, human rights, and environmental protection. Another way to classify international organizations is by region. There are international organizations that are focused on Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Intergovernmental organizations can also be classified by membership. Some international organizations are open to all countries, while others are only open to a select group of countries. The United Nations, for example, is open to all countries, while the European Union is only open to countries in Europe.

Intergovernmental organizations have a long history. The first international organization, the Holy Alliance, was formed in 1815. Since then, thousands of international organizations have been formed. These organizations have played a vital role in promoting cooperation between governments and in addressing global challenges.

Intergovernmental organizations have been the subject of some controversy. Some critics argue that these organizations are undemocratic and that they are not accountable to the people they represent. Others argue that these organizations are inefficient and that they are not effective in addressing global challenges.

Despite these criticisms, intergovernmental organizations are likely to continue to play an important role in the world. These organizations can help to promote cooperation between governments and to address global challenges.

In the future, intergovernmental organizations are likely to become even more important. The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and governments are facing more and more complex challenges. Intergovernmental organizations can help to address these challenges by providing a forum for governments to come together and to cooperate.

Intergovernmental organizations are a vital part of the global system. They play a key role in promoting cooperation between governments and in addressing global challenges. In the future, intergovernmental organizations are likely to become even more important.

What is the difference between a government and a state?

A government is the system or group of people that make decisions for a country or other area. A state is a country or other area that has its own government.

What are the different Types of government?

There are many different types of government, but the most common are Democracy, republic, Monarchy, and Dictatorship.

What is the role of government?

The role of government is to provide for the common good of its citizens. This includes providing security, protecting rights, and promoting economic development.

What are the benefits of government?

Government provides many benefits to its citizens, including security, protection of rights, and economic development.

What are the drawbacks of government?

Government can be inefficient, corrupt, and oppressive.

What is the history of government?

The history of government is long and complex. The first governments were formed in ancient times, and they have evolved over time.

What are the different forms of government?

There are many different forms of government, but the most common are democracy, republic, monarchy, and dictatorship.

What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?

A democracy is a form of government in which the people hold power. A republic is a form of government in which the people elect representatives to hold power.

What is the difference between a monarchy and a dictatorship?

A monarchy is a form of government in which one person, the monarch, holds power. A dictatorship is a form of government in which one person, the dictator, holds absolute power.

What are the different types of democracy?

There are many different types of democracy, but the most common are Direct Democracy, representative democracy, and participatory democracy.

What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?

In direct democracy, the people vote on laws and policies directly. In representative democracy, the people elect representatives to vote on laws and policies on their behalf.

What is the difference between participatory democracy and representative democracy?

In participatory democracy, the people are actively involved in making decisions about their government. In representative democracy, the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

What are the benefits of democracy?

Democracy has many benefits, including promoting equality, protecting rights, and promoting economic development.

What are the drawbacks of democracy?

Democracy can be slow and inefficient. It can also be difficult to reach consensus on difficult issues.

What is the future of government?

The future of government is uncertain. Some experts believe that government will become more efficient and effective in the future. Others believe that government will become less powerful as technology and Globalization/”>Globalization-3/”>Globalization continue to evolve.

1. Which of the following is not a type of government?
   (A) Democracy
   (B) Republic
   (C) Monarchy
   (D) Inter-governmental action

2. Which of the following is the most common type of government in the world?
   (A) Democracy
   (B) Republic
   (C) Monarchy
   (D) Inter-governmental action

3. In a democracy, the people have the power to choose their leaders.
   (A) True
   (B) False

4. In a republic, the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
   (A) True
   (B) False

5. In a monarchy, the power is held by a single person, usually a king or queen.
   (A) True
   (B) False

6. Which of the following is an example of a democracy?
   (A) The United States
   (B) The United Kingdom
   (C) Canada
   (D) All of the above

7. Which of the following is an example of a republic?
   (A) The United States
   (B) The United Kingdom
   (C) Canada
   (D) None of the above

8. Which of the following is an example of a monarchy?
   (A) The United Kingdom
   (B) Canada
   (C) Saudi Arabia
   (D) All of the above

9. Which of the following is a benefit of democracy?
   (A) It gives the people a voice in government.
   (B) It can lead to more innovation and progress.
   (C) It can help to prevent tyranny.
   (D) All of the above

10. Which of the following is a benefit of a republic?
    (A) It can be more efficient than a democracy.
    (B) It can be more stable than a democracy.
    (C) It can be more representative of the people than a democracy.
    (D) All of the above

11. Which of the following is a benefit of a monarchy?
    (A) It can provide stability and continuity.
    (B) It can provide a strong central government.
    (C) It can promote national unity.
    (D) All of the above

12. Which of the following is a drawback of democracy?
    (A) It can be slow and inefficient.
    (B) It can be difficult to reach consensus.
    (C) It can be susceptible to special interests.
    (D) All of the above

13. Which of the following is a drawback of a republic?
    (A) It can be less responsive to the people’s needs.
    (B) It can be more easily corrupted.
    (C) It can be less accountable to the people.
    (D) All of the above

14. Which of the following is a drawback of a monarchy?
    (A) It can be hereditary, which means that the position of monarch is passed down from generation to generation.
    (B) It can be absolute, which means that the monarch has complete power.
    (C) It can be oppressive, which means that the monarch can rule without regard for the rights of the people.
    (D) All of the above

15. Which type of government is best?
    (A) There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best type of government for a particular country will depend on a variety of factors, such as the country’s history, culture, and economic development.
    (B) Democracy is the best type of government.
    (C) A republic is the best type of government.
    (D) A monarchy is the best type of government.