Essay on the 33 marker "To what extent are national & sub-national policies more effective than international responses to climate change?" for OCR A-Level geography [Paper 3]
Topic: Climate Change
To what extent are national & sub-national policies more effective than international
responses to climate change?
National policies are strategies created at a country level in response to climate change. For
example, Denmark’s policies in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Subnational policies are
strategies created at a level of government below that of national level which can be regional or
state based in response to climate change such as the policies created by California. International
responses to climate change are strategies and legally binding agreements created to mitigate the
impacts of climate change across many countries such as the Kyoto Protocol and EU Emissions
Trading System [EU ETS].
The effectiveness of a national policy regarding climate change can be seen via Denmark as it
aims to reduce its greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions by converting all energy sources to
renewables by 2050. Therefore, it will significantly reduce its fossil fuel usage and increase
investment in renewables. In order to reduce demand for fossil fuels carbon taxes will be increased
and taxes will be exempt for electric cars. This suggests that even though they have increased
costs for using fossil fuels, they have decreased costs for renewable energy sources which makes
it attractive as the public are motivated to use renewable energy sources. These strategies help
reduce atmospheric CO2 level which contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect and
consequently climate change. Furthermore, Copenhagen has developed its own adaptation
strategy due to issues of flooding as it aims to create climate proof neighbourhoods and they would
do this by planning storm barriers and raising dykes along the most vulnerable shore lines and
building flood defences. This shows that national policies are more specific as each country/region
faces different impacts and also has different resources to adapt and mitigate the impacts of
climate change.
The effectiveness of a sub-national policy regarding climate change can be seen via California
through its Global Warming Solutions Act which aims to reduce GHG emissions by 80% below
1990 levels by 2050. Its long-term strategy involves phasing out fossil fuels for electricity
generation so no new coal-fired power stations will be built. It also involves cap and trade schemes
and promoting renewable energy. California also aims to generate 50% of its electricity from
renewables by 2050. In order to meet this target, subsidies are available for renewables which
means that it is more economically accessible so can encourage the usage of renewables which
are more sustainable and therefore help reduce GHG emissions that contribute to climate change.
One effectiveness of California's cap and trade scheme is that it is already the second largest in
the world as it covers 85% of carbon polluters in the state. This shows that despite its rapidly
growing economy, its ability to reduce its carbon emissions has a positive impact on the
environment. Furthermore, California’s adaptation strategies' to tackle effects of climate change
such as increase in average temperatures, sea level rise, more frequent and severe wildfires
include improved water management, avoiding new development in areas with inadequate
protection against flooding and wildfires. This shows that subnational/national policies are more
effective as California has first hand experienced significant impacts of climate change such as the
wildfires which motivates and encourages government and people to actively work towards its
specific targets and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
One international policy is the international agreements to reduce carbon emissions such as the
Kyoto protocol which was the first legally binding international agreement on limiting carbon
emissions. Kyoto set an average target of 5% reduction in carbon emissions relative to 1990 by
2012 and many countries, particularly in Europe, achieved their targets. However, others failed and
some even increased their emissions significantly which shows that international policies can be
too ambitious and therefore puts pressure on EDCs and LIDCs which don’t have the resources to
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