Week 5: Climate Change and International Relations

Study Notes

Climate change poses a significant challenge to state security.
The target to limit global temperature rise is 1.5°C, with 2°C being outdated.
A carbon budget of 240 Gigatons CO2 equivalent sets a limit on emissions.
A strict timeline exists: 30 years remaining to reach net-zero carbon emissions.
Failing to achieve net-zero by 2050 risks a self-determining climate.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued three critical calls in 2018:
- Maintain global average temperature increase below 1.5°C.
- Achieve a 50% cut in global emissions by 2030.
- Urgent and adequate political responses are necessary.

Concern for managing common pool resources began in the 1970s, covering river systems, oceans, and the atmosphere.
The 'modern ecological crisis' emerged in the late 20th century.
The 'great acceleration' in the 1950s marks a surge in population and economic activities, leading to increased consumption, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
The shift from the Holocene to the Anthropocene reflects human impact on the environment.

Environmental problems are persistent, ongoing issues, contrasting with discrete military threats.
These challenges require immediate responses mobilizing resources effectively.
Environmental issues involve diverse stakeholders and are often transboundary in nature, impacting multiple countries.

Environmental concerns are often sidelined as byproducts of legitimate activities like production and consumption.
The 'Limits to Growth' debate in the early 1970s challenged traditional notions of growth and modernization.
The UN Stockholm Conference in 1972 marked the environment as a critical global issue.
The 1980s introduced the sustainable development discourse advocating for economic growth while promoting environmental sustainability.
In the 2010s, the concept of limits resurfaced, highlighting the importance of carbon budgets and planetary boundaries.