The Role of Domestic Law in “Agreed Outcome with Legal Force”
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (12/2013)
Assessing the Indian Interpretation of a Possible Durban Platform Outcome
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (12/2013)
Assessing the Indian Interpretation of a Possible Durban Platform Outcome
Are Cities a Relevant Scale of Action to Tackle Climate Change?
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (12/2013)
Some Reflections to Inform the Debate on the Post-2020 Regime
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (12/2013)
Some Reflections to Inform the Debate on the Post-2020 Regime
Climate Protection - opportunity to ensure financial sustainability of solid waste management in developing countries
© Eigenbeiträge der Autoren (12/2013)
The vast majority of solid waste management (SWM) projects implemented in developing, emerging and transition countries (DETC) envisage the disposal of residual waste on a sanitary landfill. This approach leads in most cases to an increase of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By implementing advanced SWM systems DETC could lower their national greenhouse gas balance by 10-15%.
© Eigenbeiträge der Autoren (12/2013)
The vast majority of solid waste management (SWM) projects implemented in developing, emerging and transition countries (DETC) envisage the disposal of residual waste on a sanitary landfill. This approach leads in most cases to an increase of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By implementing advanced SWM systems DETC could lower their national greenhouse gas balance by 10-15%.
Shaping the Electricity Market of the Future
© SRU - Sachverständigenrat fĂĽr Umweltfragen (11/2013)
Climate-neutral electricity generation is both necessary and possible. It is necessary because the Federal Republic of Germany, together with the other Member States of the European Union, has committed itself to the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent from 1990 levels by 2050. This is the industrialised countries’ minimum contribution to the internationally agreed target of preventing global average temperature from rising more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. This target can only be achieved by moving to a power system essentially based on renewable sources, as substantial emission reductions are easier and less expensive to implement in the electricity sector than in other sectors.
© SRU - Sachverständigenrat fĂĽr Umweltfragen (11/2013)
Climate-neutral electricity generation is both necessary and possible. It is necessary because the Federal Republic of Germany, together with the other Member States of the European Union, has committed itself to the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent from 1990 levels by 2050. This is the industrialised countries’ minimum contribution to the internationally agreed target of preventing global average temperature from rising more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. This target can only be achieved by moving to a power system essentially based on renewable sources, as substantial emission reductions are easier and less expensive to implement in the electricity sector than in other sectors.
A Prognosis, and Perhaps a Plan, for Geoengineering Governance
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (9/2013)
The idea of global climate engineering exists, but there are no global institutions capable of making legitimate choices about deploying and managing such an intervention. On the other hand, sub-global regions, mostly individual countries could, and in fact currently do, deploy smaller interventions against natural disasters without global decision-making. If governments actively plan to cooperate on developing and managing interventions to avoid, redirect or modify severe weather natural disasters related to climate change they may along the way learn about how to set intervention goals, make intervention choices, assess outcomes of the intervention and adapt the interventions accordingly. These crucial deliberation and management skills could grow as the interventions grow in response to more severe impacts. Governments should plan to use collaboration on natural disasters as a vehicle for developing the institutional capacity to manage the global climate.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (9/2013)
The idea of global climate engineering exists, but there are no global institutions capable of making legitimate choices about deploying and managing such an intervention. On the other hand, sub-global regions, mostly individual countries could, and in fact currently do, deploy smaller interventions against natural disasters without global decision-making. If governments actively plan to cooperate on developing and managing interventions to avoid, redirect or modify severe weather natural disasters related to climate change they may along the way learn about how to set intervention goals, make intervention choices, assess outcomes of the intervention and adapt the interventions accordingly. These crucial deliberation and management skills could grow as the interventions grow in response to more severe impacts. Governments should plan to use collaboration on natural disasters as a vehicle for developing the institutional capacity to manage the global climate.
Regulating Geoengineering in International Environmental Law
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (9/2013)
Geoengineering can be viewed in two ways: as a potential cause for further environmental harm or as an option for addressing climate change in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. So far, the existing legal response in multilateral environmental agreements has been in the former domain. This article shows that this approach does not necessarily provide comprehensive legal regulation of geoengineering as it appears to leave many governance and regulatory gaps. At the same time, developing a new legal instrument on geoengineering does not seem to be feasible for a number of political and other reasons. Therefore, we propose that the most appropriate option for the time being would be to continue with the current approach but enhance inter-regime cooperation and interaction. The article discusses possible formats for such regime cooperation.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (9/2013)
Geoengineering can be viewed in two ways: as a potential cause for further environmental harm or as an option for addressing climate change in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. So far, the existing legal response in multilateral environmental agreements has been in the former domain. This article shows that this approach does not necessarily provide comprehensive legal regulation of geoengineering as it appears to leave many governance and regulatory gaps. At the same time, developing a new legal instrument on geoengineering does not seem to be feasible for a number of political and other reasons. Therefore, we propose that the most appropriate option for the time being would be to continue with the current approach but enhance inter-regime cooperation and interaction. The article discusses possible formats for such regime cooperation.
A Matter of Scale: Regional Climate Engineering and the Shortfalls of Multinational Governance
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (9/2013)
Debates over climate engineering governance tend to assume this technology is an all-or-nothing affair that produces inherently global effects which intentionally can reachany nation or population. With the emergence of possible regional climate engineering methods that seek to limit their effects to relatively local areas, this governance debate may find itself left behind in some instances by disruptively novel technological options. If so, regional climate engineering may fit better under a combination of local transnational mechanisms and bilateral treaties rather than the existing broad-scale multinational frameworks available under multilateral treaties such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (9/2013)
Debates over climate engineering governance tend to assume this technology is an all-or-nothing affair that produces inherently global effects which intentionally can reachany nation or population. With the emergence of possible regional climate engineering methods that seek to limit their effects to relatively local areas, this governance debate may find itself left behind in some instances by disruptively novel technological options. If so, regional climate engineering may fit better under a combination of local transnational mechanisms and bilateral treaties rather than the existing broad-scale multinational frameworks available under multilateral treaties such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Privatisation and De-globalisation of the Climate
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (9/2013)
This paper considers the issues raised by creating market incentives for private industry to engage in geoengineering. It argues that the benefits could include increased innovation and creativity in dealing with climate-related problems, and that the direct environmental risks are probably manageable. However, the political consequences are potentially destabilising and hard to predict. The creation of diffuse vested commercial interests may obstruct the achievement of the common good, as well as leading to global climate concerns being partially transformed into local weather concerns. While the commodification of the climate fits the long-term trend of increasing human management of the natural world, it is a step of alarming size and possibly hard to reverse.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (9/2013)
This paper considers the issues raised by creating market incentives for private industry to engage in geoengineering. It argues that the benefits could include increased innovation and creativity in dealing with climate-related problems, and that the direct environmental risks are probably manageable. However, the political consequences are potentially destabilising and hard to predict. The creation of diffuse vested commercial interests may obstruct the achievement of the common good, as well as leading to global climate concerns being partially transformed into local weather concerns. While the commodification of the climate fits the long-term trend of increasing human management of the natural world, it is a step of alarming size and possibly hard to reverse.
Implementing the Precautionary Principle for Climate Engineering
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (6/2013)
The precautionary principle is used in arguments for, as well as against, climate engineering: On the one hand, the principle can suggest caution against climate engineering so as to minimize the (unknown) risks of proposed techniques to the environment and health. On the other, arguments can be made that climate engineering is a precautionary measure against the (known) risks of climate change. This article provides an overview of this debate and what the precautionary principle means in a climate engineering context. It explores, first, how the precautionary principle is interpreted in international law, examining its history, content, legal nature, and operationalization in other areas. Next, the authors consider how the principle can be applied in a climate engineering context, both generally and under existing legal instruments. Finally, the article offers reflections on how the principle can be further operationalized for climate engineering in a meaningful way.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (6/2013)
The precautionary principle is used in arguments for, as well as against, climate engineering: On the one hand, the principle can suggest caution against climate engineering so as to minimize the (unknown) risks of proposed techniques to the environment and health. On the other, arguments can be made that climate engineering is a precautionary measure against the (known) risks of climate change. This article provides an overview of this debate and what the precautionary principle means in a climate engineering context. It explores, first, how the precautionary principle is interpreted in international law, examining its history, content, legal nature, and operationalization in other areas. Next, the authors consider how the principle can be applied in a climate engineering context, both generally and under existing legal instruments. Finally, the article offers reflections on how the principle can be further operationalized for climate engineering in a meaningful way.
Regulating Ocean Fertilization under International Law: The Risks
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (6/2013)
This paper explores the regulatory regime for ocean fertilization under the Dumping regime, which comprises the 1972 London Convention and 1996 Protocol. It assesses the extent to which ocean fertilization is presently subject to mandatory and voluntary controls and provides an overview of the proposals currently under active consideration designed to develop a comprehensive regime for ocean fertilization. Whilst acknowledging the benefits of regulation and the importance of environmental protection, this paper concludes with a warning against considering ocean fertilization in isolation from the broader context of geoengineering and climate change more generally.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (6/2013)
This paper explores the regulatory regime for ocean fertilization under the Dumping regime, which comprises the 1972 London Convention and 1996 Protocol. It assesses the extent to which ocean fertilization is presently subject to mandatory and voluntary controls and provides an overview of the proposals currently under active consideration designed to develop a comprehensive regime for ocean fertilization. Whilst acknowledging the benefits of regulation and the importance of environmental protection, this paper concludes with a warning against considering ocean fertilization in isolation from the broader context of geoengineering and climate change more generally.
