HOW INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION CAN HELP TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change, considered the greatest threat facing humanity today, has been met with various interventions, discussions and negotiations at local, regional and global levels. The Paris Climate Agreement among other treaties, a product of these interventions, brought together all nations to commit to combating climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2.0oC. Greenhouse emissions since the industrial revolution have led to the increased warming of the planet, with disproportionate impacts across countries. For instance, according to UNEP (2021), while Africa contributes negligibly about 2% – 3% of global emissions, the continent is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Hence, though the impacts of climate change are felt across the globe, vulnerability and resilience differs, given geographic, political and socioeconomic considerations. Since the effects of climate change are linked to global emissions, all countries to various degrees contributes, as well as, bear the brunt of the climate crisis. Because this is the case, international cooperation is therefore the pathway to address this global crisis. More so, the argument has been that developed nations have benefited disproportionately from greenhouse emissions and should now shoulder the majority of the costs associated with reducing emissions and tackling the crisis. Given all of the above bases, there have been some international treaties, such as the Montreal Protocol, which successfully saved the ozone layer and phased out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and now the Paris Agreement. All of these points to the importance and potentials of harnessing international cooperation to tackle climate change, and this may take various forms.

Creation of international policies/institutions and implementation:

In tackling the climate crisis, it is important to create international policies and institutions as a basis for the reduction of greenhouse emissions. These policies and institutions should be tailored towards spreading decarbonization technologies, promoting low carbon development pathways and serve as a basis for co-innovation between countries to achieve shared adaptation and mitigation goals. Climate policies should be well-developed at the international level and suitably mainstreamed to regional and local contexts. It is also important that these climate policies are ambitious, broad in scope but flexible, and should take into consideration climate targets, cost and benefits, equity, institutional capacity, among other factors. More than the creation of policies and institutions is the need for effective implementation through various mechanisms.

Joint implementation as a method of international cooperation:

This involves partnership among countries to take part in a joint reduction project aimed at achieving a set greenhouse emission reduction goal. Here, one country is able to fund the continued implementation of a reduction project in a partner country, to cater for its inability to achieve total emission reduction domestically. For instance, Singapore may only achieve a 6-ton reduction out of a 10-ton commitment, but is able to partner with the Philippines to implement an emissions reduction project that covers for the 4-ton deficiency. In this case, Singapore funds the achievement of the emission reduction in Philippines. This form of international cooperation will help Annex I and II countries achieve their reduction commitments, as well as provide non-annex countries with resources to reduce their emissions likewise, thus enhancing the achievement of net-zero.

Bilateral initiatives:

In tackling the climate crisis, international cooperation should involve holding regular discussions with other countries on issues bordering on climate change; to co-create and share knowledge and technology, as well as develop best practices and build joint efforts. The problems and needs of each partner country will be recognized through the bolstering of partnerships with various actors and dialogue with experts, NGOs, research organizations, companies, industries, local and national governments in the partner country. Adequate and specific support can therefore be provided to countries in creating decarbonization markets, developing new systems and actualizing adaptation and mitigation. Through bilateral initiatives, international cooperation will hasten climate action.

Climate financing:

To reduce emissions, encourage adaptation and foster resilience in all countries across the globe, financial resources and investments are required. International cooperation should pull climate funds from public, private and other sources from individual countries and collectively. Financial commitments to the Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund must likewise be ensured, particularly from global economic giants. These public funds may be used to encourage private sector investment while also promoting the mainstreaming of climate change in public spending. For instance, the Paris Agreement recognizes the importance of climate financing to align finance with strategies for reduced emissions and growth that is climate resilient.

Technology generation and transfer:

International cooperation must place emphasis on technology generation and transfer. Climate technologies would create more opportunities for production and consumption across all nations while keeping the global emissions in check. These technologies include low carbon development models such as renewable energy, carbon capture, climate-smart agriculture, green construction, REDD+, etc. However, developed countries, with the capacity, must play a lead role in developing and financing access to and the transfer of climate technologies to other countries based on existing or new partnerships and for the achievement of shared goals and commitments.

Role sharing:

In accordance with their economic circumstances, all nations must contribute to solving the climate crisis. All major emitters such as China, the United States, India, must take full responsibility in offering contributions. Developed countries with the highest economic endowments should likewise take up leadership in offering financial and technological contributions, as well as in significant reduction of their emissions. Assistance should also be provided to least developed countries for effective climate adaptation, resilience-building and sustainable development.

In general, international cooperation is key to addressing the climate crisis by ensuring ambitious emission reductions in highly industrialized nations, promoting green subsidies, technological transfers, policy enforcement and compliance with all of the above.

Reference:

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). International Organizations, 2021. Web Archive.