G8 Climate Change Analysis
doopa | 02.07.2005 11:41 | G8 2005 | Analysis | Ecology
A large number of non-governmental organisations and protest groups have called for a day of action against the root causes of climate change to coincide with the last day of the G8 conference. These actions are taking place because these people do not believe that the G8 leaders will take an effective stance on climate change.
In the main these people and organisations believe that it is precisely the forms of government and economics that the G8 represent and propogate that are responsible for the rate of climate change that we are witnessing.
When Tony Bliar says that he believes climate change is a "serious issue" we do not believe that he and the other leaders are offering serious solutions to the problem. The spin and glossy photo-shoots will not be enough to stop climate change. Real solutions must be sought right now and they must be effective.
Why are the G8 responsible?
These are by far and away the largest contributors to climate change. Also through their power at the other globalisation forums such as the World Trade Organisation and the World Bank they are able to control the debate on climate change. The G8 nations consistently block attempts to reign in fossil fuel consumption. The Kyoto Protocol is another attempt by the *G*lobal 8lite to introduce market based solutions to our problems. And yet it is these very market based solutions that are causing so many of the worlds' problems. G8 policies and those of its constituent governments are responsible for generating the demand for the fossil fuel economy. By making carbon emissions come under the control of the markets they are only going to exaccerbate the problem.
The theat of climate change is a real and present danger. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change part of a United Nations panel bringing together experts from all over the world has stated uncategorically that CO2 levels are higher than they have been for some time. Possibly as many as 20 million years. They attribute the overwhelming majority of this increase in CO2 levels to the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation.
Why must we take Action?
The G8 is not going to provide answers for us. The paradigm of perputual growth that lies at the heart of the neo-liberal policies of the G8 is the root cause of the unsustainable pattern of abuse of our natural resources. The paradox this creates - perpetual growth versus finite natural resources - is going to cause a catasophy. We must act now to prevent this. Only by preventing the G8 from coming together can we prevent climate meltdown.
This problem is made worse by its abstract nature. Despite countless news stories about increased numbers of flash floods, tsunamis and so on, people find it difficult to visualise the problem and how it impacts on them. There has been a failure to demonstrate how the problem affects peoples daily lives. This problem of communication of the magnitude of the problem is aided by the nature of capital. The solutions that capitalism offer to these type of problems are always the same - buy more. Too fat? - buy a subscription at the gym. Too much carbon being produced - buy more emissions and let the market set it out. This inflexibility and lack of imagination in problem solving is killing our planet. We need fresh ideas that are not based around the same old, same old, business as usual answers.
Direct Action is required.
By making Climate Change on of the supposed major topics of the G8 summit the worlds leaders are trying to show that they are really concerned about the planet and the concerns of their citizens. We live in a "democracy" after all - don't we? However, this is just a facade. The priority that they seem to afford the topic of climate change is not open toscrunity. We are not allowed to read the draft documents unless they are leaked in political stage managed or infighting activities. If we are allowed access to specific meetings, it will be because nothing will be decided there. We must counteract this spin and stage managed control of democracy, and expose the lies of our "leaders".
Solutions
It is clear that the problem needs addressed. All countries and people in the world agree on this. Even the G8 is tantalisingly close to agreeing that the problem exists. Even the US knows that it must do something about this problem, and despite its political wrangling and posturing does recognise the problem - if not the scale.
Kyoto and other reductions
The previous promises that have been made by successive governments have not been fulfilled, and the new guidelines of the Kyoto treaty now ratified will not be enough to stem the rising tide of climate change. Successive reports by independent international scientists have called for more reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and yet few leading governments seem willing to make the required changes.
At Kyoto the average reductions from 1990 levels of CO2 was agreed at 5.2% by 2012 with some industrialised nations actually able to increase their CO2 output levels. This is quite clearly farcical. Unless the 60% recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is met the world will not be able to stabilise the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. The agreement misses out on some of the major industrialising countries such as Brazil, China and India.
When the UK government signed up to the Kyoto agreement it agreed to reduce emissions by 12.5% compared to 1990 levels. It had met this target by 1999. By 2002 it was 14.4% below the 1990 levels. However, in 2003 this fell to 13.4% and last year the level was 12.6%. This shows that pressure must be maintained on the UK government to meet its agreed targets. For once, our politicans have to be held accountable. But how realistic is it to expect this?
The United States tabled the idea of emissions trading at the Kyoto discussions. This approach has been pushed by richer more developed countries, such as those that make up the G8. These nations are the representatives of the corporate world at international decision making forums. They negoiate on behalf of the corporations, since this will benefit the developed world over the majority world.
The manner in which the approach of emission trading as a solution to climate change has been adopted is illustrative of the problem of decision making at international forums. Decision making at this level is inherently undemocratic with the G8 countries holding all the cards and weighting all agreements in their favour, not to mention the arroagnace of assuming that it is up to them to solve all the world's problems.
The G8 solution:
This year marked the start of an EU initiative to begin a Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme. These are the kinds of solutions favoured by the large industrialised nations of the G8. These schemes are part of a process designed to help the EU countries meet their Kyoto treaty commintments. Industries are set defined levels of emissions that they are allowed to emit over a defined peroid of time. If they emit more than these levels then they must buy the excess from other companies who have managed to emit less than their targets, or else the offending companies will have to pay a fine. Each industry, such as power stations, refineries or manufacturing is given an allowance. This system allows countries in theory to not have anuy reduction at all. Instead they can buy the permission to pollute from countries that have amnaged to reduce their emissions. Therefore this free market mechanism is not gaurenteed to reduce emissions. The Dutch for example plan to meet their targets under Kyoto by trading up to 50% of their target from other countries. See
http://www.carbontradewatch.org/projects/CERUPT.doc Mechanisms like this make a mockery of attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Countries with no reductions set under the Kyoto treaty will effectively be encouraged to pollute and accept the excess emissions of the countries that can't meet their targets. The other major problem is the regulation of the system. At the moment it is proposed that the very companies involved in regulation of companies like Enron and Worldcom shoudl be invovled in monitoring emissions targets. G8 governments want to stay out of the process of regulation of corporations. Time and time again this has been shown not to work. In the UK the government concluded during a trial scheme that most companies had defrauded about their emissions during the scheme (ref heidi).
Climate Justice
The demands of the global justice movement - anticapitalists - are for a world free from injustice. The abuse of our planet is an injustice against future generations - and also against the thousands of people affecting by increased smog, freak weather and so on. Solutions to climate change will only come about as part of a wider solution to ills within todays society. We must take responsibilty for our actions. The current system does not encourage us to do this. We must therefore create mechanisms that restore our connection to the world around us. Not only to the planet and nature but also to our communities and all aspects of our lives. It is only then that we will be in a position to tackle the problems that our planet is facing.
When Tony Bliar says that he believes climate change is a "serious issue" we do not believe that he and the other leaders are offering serious solutions to the problem. The spin and glossy photo-shoots will not be enough to stop climate change. Real solutions must be sought right now and they must be effective.
Why are the G8 responsible?
These are by far and away the largest contributors to climate change. Also through their power at the other globalisation forums such as the World Trade Organisation and the World Bank they are able to control the debate on climate change. The G8 nations consistently block attempts to reign in fossil fuel consumption. The Kyoto Protocol is another attempt by the *G*lobal 8lite to introduce market based solutions to our problems. And yet it is these very market based solutions that are causing so many of the worlds' problems. G8 policies and those of its constituent governments are responsible for generating the demand for the fossil fuel economy. By making carbon emissions come under the control of the markets they are only going to exaccerbate the problem.
The theat of climate change is a real and present danger. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change part of a United Nations panel bringing together experts from all over the world has stated uncategorically that CO2 levels are higher than they have been for some time. Possibly as many as 20 million years. They attribute the overwhelming majority of this increase in CO2 levels to the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation.
Why must we take Action?
The G8 is not going to provide answers for us. The paradigm of perputual growth that lies at the heart of the neo-liberal policies of the G8 is the root cause of the unsustainable pattern of abuse of our natural resources. The paradox this creates - perpetual growth versus finite natural resources - is going to cause a catasophy. We must act now to prevent this. Only by preventing the G8 from coming together can we prevent climate meltdown.
This problem is made worse by its abstract nature. Despite countless news stories about increased numbers of flash floods, tsunamis and so on, people find it difficult to visualise the problem and how it impacts on them. There has been a failure to demonstrate how the problem affects peoples daily lives. This problem of communication of the magnitude of the problem is aided by the nature of capital. The solutions that capitalism offer to these type of problems are always the same - buy more. Too fat? - buy a subscription at the gym. Too much carbon being produced - buy more emissions and let the market set it out. This inflexibility and lack of imagination in problem solving is killing our planet. We need fresh ideas that are not based around the same old, same old, business as usual answers.
Direct Action is required.
By making Climate Change on of the supposed major topics of the G8 summit the worlds leaders are trying to show that they are really concerned about the planet and the concerns of their citizens. We live in a "democracy" after all - don't we? However, this is just a facade. The priority that they seem to afford the topic of climate change is not open toscrunity. We are not allowed to read the draft documents unless they are leaked in political stage managed or infighting activities. If we are allowed access to specific meetings, it will be because nothing will be decided there. We must counteract this spin and stage managed control of democracy, and expose the lies of our "leaders".
Solutions
It is clear that the problem needs addressed. All countries and people in the world agree on this. Even the G8 is tantalisingly close to agreeing that the problem exists. Even the US knows that it must do something about this problem, and despite its political wrangling and posturing does recognise the problem - if not the scale.
Kyoto and other reductions
The previous promises that have been made by successive governments have not been fulfilled, and the new guidelines of the Kyoto treaty now ratified will not be enough to stem the rising tide of climate change. Successive reports by independent international scientists have called for more reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and yet few leading governments seem willing to make the required changes.
At Kyoto the average reductions from 1990 levels of CO2 was agreed at 5.2% by 2012 with some industrialised nations actually able to increase their CO2 output levels. This is quite clearly farcical. Unless the 60% recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is met the world will not be able to stabilise the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. The agreement misses out on some of the major industrialising countries such as Brazil, China and India.
When the UK government signed up to the Kyoto agreement it agreed to reduce emissions by 12.5% compared to 1990 levels. It had met this target by 1999. By 2002 it was 14.4% below the 1990 levels. However, in 2003 this fell to 13.4% and last year the level was 12.6%. This shows that pressure must be maintained on the UK government to meet its agreed targets. For once, our politicans have to be held accountable. But how realistic is it to expect this?
The United States tabled the idea of emissions trading at the Kyoto discussions. This approach has been pushed by richer more developed countries, such as those that make up the G8. These nations are the representatives of the corporate world at international decision making forums. They negoiate on behalf of the corporations, since this will benefit the developed world over the majority world.
The manner in which the approach of emission trading as a solution to climate change has been adopted is illustrative of the problem of decision making at international forums. Decision making at this level is inherently undemocratic with the G8 countries holding all the cards and weighting all agreements in their favour, not to mention the arroagnace of assuming that it is up to them to solve all the world's problems.
The G8 solution:
This year marked the start of an EU initiative to begin a Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme. These are the kinds of solutions favoured by the large industrialised nations of the G8. These schemes are part of a process designed to help the EU countries meet their Kyoto treaty commintments. Industries are set defined levels of emissions that they are allowed to emit over a defined peroid of time. If they emit more than these levels then they must buy the excess from other companies who have managed to emit less than their targets, or else the offending companies will have to pay a fine. Each industry, such as power stations, refineries or manufacturing is given an allowance. This system allows countries in theory to not have anuy reduction at all. Instead they can buy the permission to pollute from countries that have amnaged to reduce their emissions. Therefore this free market mechanism is not gaurenteed to reduce emissions. The Dutch for example plan to meet their targets under Kyoto by trading up to 50% of their target from other countries. See
http://www.carbontradewatch.org/projects/CERUPT.doc Mechanisms like this make a mockery of attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Countries with no reductions set under the Kyoto treaty will effectively be encouraged to pollute and accept the excess emissions of the countries that can't meet their targets. The other major problem is the regulation of the system. At the moment it is proposed that the very companies involved in regulation of companies like Enron and Worldcom shoudl be invovled in monitoring emissions targets. G8 governments want to stay out of the process of regulation of corporations. Time and time again this has been shown not to work. In the UK the government concluded during a trial scheme that most companies had defrauded about their emissions during the scheme (ref heidi).
Climate Justice
The demands of the global justice movement - anticapitalists - are for a world free from injustice. The abuse of our planet is an injustice against future generations - and also against the thousands of people affecting by increased smog, freak weather and so on. Solutions to climate change will only come about as part of a wider solution to ills within todays society. We must take responsibilty for our actions. The current system does not encourage us to do this. We must therefore create mechanisms that restore our connection to the world around us. Not only to the planet and nature but also to our communities and all aspects of our lives. It is only then that we will be in a position to tackle the problems that our planet is facing.
doopa
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