Responses to Climate Change (HL) (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)): Revision Note

Governmental & non-governmental responses

• Responses to climate change can be led by governments or non-governmental stakeholders, including businesses, communities, and individuals

• Responses aim to:

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

  • Adapt to climate impacts

  • Promote sustainable practices

• Key response types include:

  • Economic measures

  • Legislation

  • Goal-setting commitments

  • Personal lifestyle changes

1. Economic measures

• Economic measures use market-based strategies to encourage low-carbon practices

Carbon pricing

• Carbon pricing assigns a cost to greenhouse gas emissions to incentivise reduction

  • E.g. the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) places a cap on emissions and allows companies to buy or sell emission allowances

• Impact: promotes emissions reduction by making pollution more costly for businesses

Subsidies and tariffs

• Governments may subsidise renewable energy projects and impose tariffs on high-emission products

  • E.g. many governments offer subsidies for solar energy projects to increase renewable energy use.

• Impact: encourages a shift to clean energy sources and supports renewable industry growth

2. Legislative measures

• Legislative measures are laws or regulations designed to enforce emission reductions

National emissions laws

• Countries pass legislation to limit emissions from major sectors like transportation and industry

  • E.g. the UK’s Climate Change Act sets legally binding targets to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050

• Impact: creates accountability for emissions reduction and long-term climate planning

3. Goal-setting commitments

• Goal-setting involves setting measurable targets to reduce emissions and adopt sustainable practices

Corporate sustainability goals

• Companies voluntarily set goals for carbon neutrality and waste reduction

  • E.g. the outdoor clothing company Patagonia aims to use only renewable energy in operations and minimise waste

• Impact: encourages the private sector to lead on sustainability and inspire similar actions in other companies

B Corp certification

• B Corporation (also known as B Corp) certification recognises companies that meet high environmental and social performance standards

  • E.g. Ben & Jerry’s is B Corp certified and actively works on reducing its carbon footprint

• Impact: incentivises businesses to operate sustainably and gain consumer trust

4. Personal lifestyle changes

• Individuals can adopt lifestyle changes to reduce their personal carbon footprint

Reducing meat consumption

• Lowering meat intake reduces methane emissions associated with livestock farming

  • E.g. initiatives like “Meatless Mondays” encourage people to adopt more plant-based diets

• Impact: reduces demand for high-emission meat products and lowers emissions

Reducing energy use

• Conserving energy at home and opting for energy-efficient appliances can lower personal emissions

  • E.g. smart thermostats help households save energy by adjusting temperatures automatically

• Impact: lowers household emissions and energy costs

Global strategies to address climate change

The role of the United Nations (UN)

• The UN has led many global efforts to combat climate change

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the main UN body focusing on climate change action

  • Established in 1992

  • UNFCCC works to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations to limit severe impacts on the climate system

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was created by the UN

  • Assesses scientific research and data on climate change

  • Releases reports that guide policies and actions based on the latest climate science

Conference of the Parties (COP) summits

• COP refers to the Conference of the Parties

  • These are annual meetings held by countries that are members of the UNFCCC

  • COP summits bring countries together to discuss, negotiate, and set international climate goals

Key COP agreements

• Paris Agreement (COP21, 2015):

  • Aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, with an ideal goal of 1.5°C

  • Countries pledged Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

    • These outline their emissions reduction targets

    • E.g. the European Union committed to reducing emissions by 55% by 2030

• Glasgow Climate Pact (COP26, 2021):

  • Nations agreed to reduce coal use and methane emissions

  • Pledged funding for developing nations to adapt to climate impacts

    • E.g. the US and EU pledged to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030

Key outcomes of COP 28

• Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP 28, 2023):

  • Fossil fuel transition:

    • Countries agreed to a "transition away" from fossil fuels, with discussions on carbon capture to support production while reducing emissions

  • Renewable energy target:

    • Nations committed to tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, in line with limiting warming to 1.5°C

  • Loss and Damage Fund:

    • A fund (first established at COP 27 in 2022) was formalised to support climate-vulnerable countries, with contributions expected from wealthier nations

The Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment

• The Montreal Protocol (1987) was an international treaty to phase out substances that depleted the ozone layer, e.g. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

  • It successfully reduced CFCs

  • This has protected the ozone

• Initially, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were introduced as safer alternatives to CFCs (they are not harmful to the ozone layer)

  • However, HFCs were later identified as powerful greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming

Kigali Amendment (2016)

• The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol focuses on these HFCs

  • Aims to reduce HFCs emissions by 85% by 2047

  • This could potentially prevent up to 0.5°C of global warming