Environmental Governance (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

• This convention was the first attempt to direct international cooperation towards the climate change crisis

• Its goals were to start a global discussion around and lay the foundation for future plans to

  • Reduce greenhouse gases 

  • Slow down climate change 

• It was the first acknowledgement by the international community that there was a global climate crisis that would impact all states, and that working interdependently was needed

• This document is foundational, as other later environmental laws followed

• It recognised the world we live in as a global commons

  • State borders are artificial as the planet’s seas, atmosphere and biodiversity are interdependent

  • States should aim for sustainable development

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

• The IPCC was created in 1988 to assess the science related to climate change 

  • It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme

  • It does not conduct scientific research but reports on findings of reputable institutions

  • It creates detailed reports which it shares with states outlining the latest climate change data and studies 

The Tragedy of the Commons

• The Tragedy of the Commons is a situation where individuals overuse a shared resource for personal benefit, leading to its depletion or damage, even though this harms everyone in the long term

• Sovereignty has been an obstacle to addressing climate change

  • Many states act in their own self-interest and do not consider the long-term impact of their actions

  • States will often prioritise economic growth by depleting natural resources and producing greenhouse gases 

• Due to the interconnected and interdependent nature of our global environment, the actions of one state can negatively impact the overall environment of the planet 

  • Ironically, states causing damage are also causing damage to themselves