By Shariq Ahmed
The Earth’s climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that
change the amount of solar energy our planet receives. The term ‘Climate Change’ is understood as an infrequent adjustment in the atmosphere which straight away effects the overall climate system of the planet Earth. At present advocates of climate change are struggling to address critical issues related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) in the atmosphere such as the issue of Global Warning. The basic requirement for climate change is the mixtures
of certain gases such as: carbon dioxide (Co2), methane (CH4), water (H2O), nitrogen oxide (Nh2) and fluorinated gases into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide enters atmosphere mainly through burning processes such as; coal, oil, gas, chemical reactions (production of cement) and waste material and it is sequestered by absorbing by the plants and trees as part of natural cycle. Similarly, methane and nitrous oxide are released by the production
and transportation of the fossil fuels and by burning the live-stock. Fluorinated gases such as; hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride, nitrogen trifluoride are the major harmful gases and are the outcome of industrial production and waste which are specifically
The Constitutional Phase
Climate Change and its Policies blamed for ozone depletion. These gases are mostly the outcome of human activities such as; deforestation, industrialization, increased use of vehicles’ etc. The outcome of these above mentioned harmful gases in the atmosphere leads to the formation of the Greenhouse effect. The data provided by NASA shows that from Industrial Revolution till 2009 there was 38% and 148%
increase in both CO2 and CH4 respectively in the air, making 2014 as the most heated year since 1988. F The development of these climate change policies can be easily understood by further dividing them into six phases: foundational phase, agenda-setting phase, pre-negotiation phase, constitutional phase and the second constitutional phase. These phases provide the roadmap for setting up the frameworks and policies for climate change. They are
explained as following; It was the most important phase in the history of climate change policy. During this phase, it was realised that a specific treaty should be enforced that would specifically deal with climate related concerns. This Constitutional process started and in December 1990 UN General Assembly formed the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC) in relation to establish a Framework
Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) which thereby adopted on March 21, 1994.
The Regulatory Phase
The foundational phase
Under this period issues in relation to climate change were raised for the first time. Scientific research developed means/methods to detect inadequacies’ in the atmosphere and by the late 1980s they manage to recognise harmful gases mainly by the human activities that contribute greenhouse effect, followed by global warming.
Agenda-Setting Phase
The Agenda-setting phase (1985-1988) introduced governmental actions for the first time where scientists and governments took initiative for drafting certain policy regarding greenhouse gases. Further during this phase around 1980s it was confirmed that the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were the major cause for the ozone hole in Antarctic and in consideration to this ozone layer depletion, the Montreal Protocol
was passed in 1987, which therefore resulted in great success in curbing down the global production of ozone depleting substances. Moreover, it During this phase adoption for Kyoto Protocol in The Earth’s climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of
glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives. The term ‘Climate Change’ is understood as an infrequent adjustment in the atmosphere which straight away effects the overall climate system of the
planet Earth. At present advocates of climate change are struggling to address critical issues related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) in the atmosphere such as the issue of Global Warning. The basic requirement for climate change is the mixtures of certain gases such as: carbon dioxide (Co2), methane (CH4), water (H2O), nitrogen oxide (Nh2) and fluorinated gases into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide enters
atmosphere mainly through burning The data provided by NASA shows that from Industrial Revolution till 2009 there was 38% and 148% was the phase where governmental agencies throughout the world realised that there is an urgent need of climate
change guidelines.
Pre-Negotiation Phase
increase in both CO2 and CH4 respectively in the air, making 2014 as the most heated year since 1988 The pre-negotiation period lasted from 1988-90 where the part of non-governmental agencies like science scholars/ experts started playing bigger role. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by
WMO and UNEP to consider all the scientific knowledge and research under its umbrella for the improvised understanding of climate change with the techniques such as planning, adoption and mitigation. Moreover, three major dynamics on climate change were forwarded; firstly, division between developed states to limit their GHGs emissions, secondly, division between developed and developing countries in respect to their responsibilities and
thirdly, divisions among those developing states which are mainly concerned with climate change and poverty. processes such as; coal, oil, gas, chemical reactions (production of cement) and waste material and it is sequestered by absorbing by the plants and trees as part of natural cycle. These gases are mostly the outcome of human activities
such as; deforestation, industrialization, increased use of vehicles’ etc. The data provided by NASA shows that from Industrial Revolution till 2009 there was 38% and 148% increase in both CO2 and CH4 respectively in the air, making 2014 as the most heated year since 1988. Furthermore, the problem with greenhouse gases are that they disperse quickly through air and travel
worldwide resulting in mass global effect –– leading to some serious repercussions, mainly the issue of Global warming. As a matter of fact, by the end of nineteenth century science scholars finally understood the notion/concept of global warming which therefore forced countries to the develop various international frameworks and policies regulating climate change. The development of these climate change policies can be easily understood by further dividing them
into six phases: foundational phase, agenda-setting phase, pre-negotiation phase, constitutional phase and the second Climate Change and its Policies constitutional phase. These phases provide the roadmap for setting up the frameworks and policies for climate change. They are explained as following;
The foundational phase
Under this period issues in relation to climate change were raised for the first time. Scientific research developed means/methods to detect inadequacies’ in the atmosphere and by the late 1980s they manage to recognise harmful gases mainly by the human activities that contribute greenhouse effect, followed by global warming.
Agenda-Setting Phase
The Agenda-setting phase (1985-1988) introduced governmental actions for the first time where scientists and governments took initiative for drafting certain policy regarding greenhouse gases. Further during this phase around 1980s it was confirmed that the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were
the major cause for the ozone hole in Antarctic and in consideration to this ozone layer depletion, the Montreal Protocol was passed in 1987, which therefore resulted in great success in curbing down the global production of ozone depleting substances.
Pre-Negotiation Phase
The pre-negotiation period lasted from 1988-90 where the part of non-governmental agencies like science scholars/ experts started playing bigger role. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by WMO and UNEP to consider all the scientific knowledge and research under its umbrella for the improvised understanding of climate change with the techniques such as planning, adoption and mitigation. firstly, division
between developed states to limit their GHGs emissions, secondly, division between developed and developing countries in respect to their responsibilities and thirdly, divisions among those developing states which are mainly concerned with climate change and poverty.
The Constitutional Phase
During this phase adoption for Kyoto Protocol in December 1997 was completed by United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where for the first-time legal binding targets were set for
the developing countries It was the most important phase in the history of climate change policy. During this phase, it was realised that a specific treaty should be enforced that would specifically deal with climate related concerns. This Constitutional process started and in December 1990 UN General
Assembly formed the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC) in relation to establish a Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) which thereby adopted on March 21, 1994.
The Regulatory Phase
During this phase adoption for Kyoto Protocol in December 1997 was completed by United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where for the first-time legal binding targets were set for the developing countries.
The Second Constitutional Phase
The last phase was framed in a manner just to focus the present and future negotiations of policies as well as the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol right after its adoption by UNFCCC in respect to Climate Change policy and framework. Furthermore, Article 2 of the UNFCCC Climate Change and its Policies sets objective for the parties to stabilize the greenhouse emissions from the atmosphere up to certain level so that
toxicity in the atmosphere is lowered. Article 3 of the convention states that the parties to the treaty shall have common but different responsibilities, for example: the developed countries shall take a step forward in achieving the targets set by the convention. Kyoto Protocol states two commitment periods that are 2008-2012 and 2012-2030. In the first commitment period that is 2008-2012
countries were able to reduce their emissions by average 5 percent of 1990 levels. On 8th December 2012 second commitment ‘Doha Amendment of Kyoto Protocol’ was adopted at Doha, Qatar wherein new obligations for parties such as GHGs lists and articles of the protocol were adopted. Developed Countries like United States, China, Canada, Russia
lower down dependability on the fossil fuels. On the other side treaties and policies like UNFCCC have been playing a great role in mitigating climate change. Countries like United States have rejected UNFCCC approach several times. Once a nation is tagged as a developing or underdeveloped nation, it can exploit unlimited amount of resources in order to attain its high economic growth which further directly
or indirectly by various means allow them to emanate harmful gases and chemicals into We must carefully plan more treaties, laws, policies and also promote the renewable technologies at the fullest all around the globe to put a stop to these adverse effects
of global climate change and New Zealand did not ratify the targets set under second commitment period because they first wanted developing countries to be part of the protocol as they are the major committers of CO2 throughout the globe. After the second-constitutional phase which recognised the working platform for Kyoto Protocol is the current phase where policy makers are working to achieve more comprehensive
approach towards climate change and GHGs emissions all around the world. In this 21st century meeting the climate change targets or moving towards cleaner, yet greener environment is the biggest challenge ever faced by human race. Since, the emergence of the Renewable Energy Resources, there have been little shift towards greener environment, as they the atmosphere leading to a mass
global effect. On the other hand, Paris Agreement showed some positive signs by treating both developed and developing countries as one –– with the similar aim for mitigating climatic problems. Interestingly, as of now 174 out of 197 countries have
ratified it –– meaning majority of nations have agreed the terms and conditions in order to limit emissions of greenhouse gases–– hence the magnitude of climate change. For mitigating the climate change as well as to adoption of sustainable environment approach different nations and communities will have to vary in their vulnerability and their capacity to adapt. We must carefully plan more treaties, laws, policies and also promote the renewable
technologies at the fullest all around the globe to put a stop to these adverse effects of global climate change. By keeping our planet healthy, we are definitely keeping ourselves and our future generation healthy.