Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, primarily driven by human activities (greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes) that increase atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and other heat-trapping gases. For CUET purposes, climate change is analyzed as a POLITICAL and GOVERNANCE issue, not merely an environmental or scientific one.
Climate Change as a Political Issue
While scientists study climate mechanisms, political science examines how climate change relates to:
- Governance and Policy: How do governments respond? What institutions govern climate action?
- Power and Interests: Who benefits from current energy systems? Who bears costs of transition?
- Justice and Equity: Who is responsible for climate change? Who should pay for solutions?
- International Cooperation: How can global action be achieved when nations have divergent interests?
- Democracy and Development: How to balance economic development with climate protection?
Climate change exemplifies a tragedy of the commons at global scale: Each nation benefits from burning fossil fuels (economic growth), but all nations suffer from climate change (collective action problem). This creates fundamental political difficulty.
Climate Change and Global Justice (connects to Module 1)
Climate change raises profound justice questions explored by global justice theorists:
Historical Responsibility and Climate Justice
The Problem: Industrialized nations built wealth through fossil fuel combustion from 1750s to present. This historical emissions caused current climate crisis.
Justice Question: Since wealthy nations caused climate change, shouldn't they bear primary responsibility for fixing it?
The Argument:
- Industrialized nations (USA, Europe, Japan) have pumped ~80% of atmospheric CO2 in history
- These nations enjoyed economic benefits of fossil fuels while poor nations now suffer climate impacts
- This violates distributive justice—benefits went to wealthy, costs go to poor
- Wealthy nations should pay for climate mitigation and adaptation
Intergenerational Justice
The Problem: Current generations benefit from fossil fuel use, but future generations bear costs of climate change.
Justice Question: What obligations do we have to people not yet born?
Arguments:
- Future people cannot participate in decisions affecting them
- Rawls' veil of ignorance: If we didn't know if we'd be born now or in future, would we accept current climate practices?
- Irreversible decisions (species extinction, sea level rise) harm future generations
- Current generation has moral duty to preserve livable climate for posterity
Development Justice
The Problem: Poor nations need development (electricity, transportation, industry) to raise living standards. But development currently requires fossil fuels, increasing emissions.
Justice Questions:
- Do poor nations have "right to develop" even if it increases emissions?
- Is it fair to tell poor nations to forgo development for climate?
- Developed nations developed using fossil fuels; why deny same path to poor nations?
Different Perspectives:
- Poor nations' view: "Common but differentiated responsibility"—wealthy nations historically caused problem and have capacity to solve it; poor nations need to develop
- Environmental view: No nation can develop on fossil fuels; must leapfrog to renewable energy
- Justice view: Wealthy nations should finance clean development for poor nations
Within-Nation Climate Justice
Within countries, climate impacts and costs are unevenly distributed:
- Poorest populations most vulnerable to climate impacts (live in vulnerable areas, lack adaptation resources)
- Wealthy populations can afford air conditioning, migration, insurance
- Working class bears costs of energy transition (job losses in coal industry)
- Future poor inherit degraded environment
International Climate Governance Mechanisms
Kyoto Protocol (1997)
Context: First major international treaty specifically addressing climate change. Emerged from UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.