RTN4 - Unit 2: COP21 Deal Comprehension Questions

How has the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference organized in Paris (COP 21) been different from the 2009 Conference in Copenhagen (COP15)? Why?

Answer explanation

- All countries wanted action on climate change, and though deciding how to do this was a challenge, in the end an agreement was reached, though far from perfect, more robust than many had anticipated in the run-up to the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference - COP21. (P. 2)

- Asian powers, especially China, who used to be a roadblock/an obstacle in/who did not support the process of global action against climate change in the COP15, now have been supporters/more supportive/active for that process, thus leading to the success of the COP21/helping COP21 to reach an agreement. (P. 1)

According to the article, what did the agreement at Paris include?

Answer explanation

It included a mention of human rights, a strong ambition mechanism, a collective stocktake of emissions reduction actions in 2018, a regular, ratchet-up mechanism to ensure that the INDCs each nation submitted prior to COP21 are scaled up over time and it established that support for capacity building in developing countries would launch in 2016. (P. 4)

Why have countries adopted such changes?

Answer explanation

Because :

-           those countries have experienced themselves the negative impacts of climate change (P. 5)

-           They have also realized that the process of cutting gas emission/action against climate change can be a very good opportunity for change (for greater energy security, affordable supplies and recognized international leadership) (P. 5-6)

What other reasons have contributed to the great success of COP 21?

Answer explanation

- The warm-up relations between US and China (P. 9)

- the participation and engagement/involvement of developing countries, notably the Philippines (P. 8)

How have the India’s position and performance in COP21 been described by the author?

Answer explanation

-   India’s position: India has been changing its positions/minds quickly/Its positions/viewpoints were not consistent. (P. 7)

- India’s performance: However, at the end, such changing viewpoints of India did not affect the agreement. (P. 7)

What are the shortcomings of the COP21 Agreement?

Answer explanation

Emissions from shipping and aviation were not included in the agreement (P. 10)

- There was little mention of land-use emissions (P. 10)

- There was a shortage of short-term action (P. 11)

What would be the main factors deciding the successful operation of the agreement?

Answer explanation

- The mechanisms and operationalization of the agreement now fall to the United Nations, which much figure out how to disperse funds from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and develop a fair system for carbon accounting. (P. 12)

- But emissions reductions actions are the responsibility of the nearly 200 member-states, meaning the ultimate success of the agreement depends on Asia, responsible for the biggest proportion of global emissions. (P. 12)

- Another crucial factor will be the robustness of the climate finance mechanism, to be funded primarily by developed countries including Japan, and if technology transfer allows for the rapid expansion of clean energy as is hoped. (P. 13)