CLIMATE CHANGE: THE GOVERNANCE CHALLENGE Cormac...
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Climate change
CLIMATE CHANGE: THE GOVERNANCE CHALLENGECormac Cullinan18 November 2009
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The Big Picture
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Earth makes the rules
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Climate change is a governance
issue
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Changing the law
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Why change the law?• It isn’t working!• To change behaviour
and restructure society
(economy, government etc)• To educate and set new social norms• To prohibit and discourage damaging
behaviour
(use of coal, waste etc)• To incentivise
beneficial behaviour
(e.g. using
public transport).
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A few ideas (1)• Constitution s 24 ecologically sustainable
development – define it (low carbon, efficient, equitable)
• Audit/ assess adequacy of governance system to achieve sustainable future
• Eliminate perverse incentives and obstacles
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A few ideas (2)• Consider a Climate Change Act (e.g. UK
and Scotland)• New duties on public bodies e.g. to
promote energy efficiency• Mandatory targets based on science• Carbon tax• Emission charges
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A few ideas (3)• Reform EIA system & introduce strategic
assessments of climate change impacts of public policies, plans etc
• Reform land use management legislation to factor these issues into strategic planning and
decision‐making• Building standards for new buildings and restrict
transfer of energy inefficient buildings
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A few ideas (4)• Implement Coastal Management Act• Mandate green procurement, waste and water
reuse and recycling• Reduce cost of off‐peak electricity• Stop coal prospecting and new mines• Strong monitoring and feedback loops to assess
effectiveness
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Institutional reform• Powerful body to develop strategies and
national goals & co‐ordinate response across sectors and spheres
• Remove obstacles to independent power suppliers supplying grid
• Deal with vested interests in status quo (e.g. Eskom
and municipalities)
• Harness creativity of the nation (R&D etc)
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Principles for governance reform • Systemic problems require systemic solutions
(holistic & integrated)• Move towards sustainability don’t just slow
down on the road to disaster• Address root causes not just symptoms• Delay is costly/fatal – move swiftly & boldly
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Delay is costly and potentially fatal
• Climate change kills• Prevention now (mitigation) is safer and
cheaper than addressing problem later• Saving energy is cheaper and quicker than
generating it.• The longer we take, the greater the harm and
the fewer the options
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Changing course
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Living well or GDP?(South American/ Caribbean revolution)
Living
well
requires
people,
communities,
groups and
nationalities
to
exercise
their
rights
and
liberties,
and
to
exercise their
responsibilities
in the
framework
of
respect
for
diversity
and
harmonious coexistence with nature
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Human beings are part of an interdependent system of plants, animals, hills, forests, oceans and air with which they must
live together in harmony and balance while respecting the rights of all. In order to guarantee the full implementation of human rights it is necessary to recognise
and defend
the rights of Mother Earth. It is therefore essential to approve, within the framework of the United Nations, a Universal Declaration of
the Rights of Mother Earth.17 October 2009Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Antigua
and Barbuda, Cuba, Honduras
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