Socioeconomic and Geopolitical Aspects of Global Climate Change

An Intersectorial Vision from the South of the South

verfasst von: Leonidas Osvaldo Girardin

Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Buchreihe : The Latin American Studies Book Series

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book discusses climate change from an academic point of view centered on and from Latin America. Although climate change is a global issue, there has been a notable lack of input from the Latin American perspective, which means that many Latin American intellectuals often bring ideas, tools and potential solutions proposed by external, international research centers or organizations to the region. This book embraces a Latin American viewpoint to critically engage the problem and many of the concepts used in the analysis of climate change.

The text emphasizes heterogeneity as an essential factor that cannot be absent in the analysis of how to understand and face the challenges posed by climate change. This heterogeneity refers not only to the magnitude of the impact that different regions will experience (including in their productive activities, ecosystems and social groups), but also to their contexts and capacities. Different countries' and regions' historical accumulated emissions—the primary cause of the current atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases—can inform current responsibilities, and their diverse productive structures will also contribute to different baselines in energy, agriculture and other sectors. Asymmetries in economic, technological and political capacities to face climate-related challenges will influence the social and economic costs of potential adaptation and mitigation measures.

Using this conceptual approach, the book focuses on some of the main climate change-linked impacts expected in the region, such as effects on semi-arid ecosystems, and feasible, sector-specific adaptation measures. Furthermore, it contextualizes mitigation measures that appear on the international agenda (including the utilization of economic instruments to flexibilize the fulfillment of climate commitments) in the Latin American region.

Socioeconomic and Geopolitical Aspects of Global Climate Change: An Intersectorial Vision from the South of the South offers socioeconomic and geopolitical analysis from the perspective of a region that is going to suffer impacts disproportionately greater than its historical and current responsibility in triggering this global environmental threat.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction. Socioeconomic and Geopolitical Aspects of Global Climate Change. An Intersectoral Vision From the South of the South. Situation of the International Negotiation from the Paris Agreement (December 2015) and Its Latter Evolution. “We Were Few, and the Pandemic Arrived”

Abstract

This chapter explains the main socioeconomic and geopolitical aspects related not only to the international negotiation process on climate change, but also to some fundamental concepts for understanding the difficulties of reaching an agreement in this negotiation, which are presented in the introduction. Heterogeneity is a key factor in explaining the existence of these difficulties, insofar as there are marked differences in the geographical distribution of expected impacts, the degrees of existing vulnerability, the capacity to face the challenges posed by climate change, or the incidence of economic impacts linked to the measures taken to mitigate or adapt to climate change, but also between the current and historical responsibilities for having reached the current situation.

Leonidas Osvaldo Girardin

Chapter 2. Agriculture and Climate Change: Opportunity or Threat?

Abstract

This chapter is based on a presentation made at the Argentine Association of Agricultural Economics (AAEA) in which the main threats and challenges posed by climate change to agriculture, both globally and regionally, and particularly for Argentina, were discussed, taking as a source the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports and the diverse studies carried out in Argentina and South America.

Leonidas Osvaldo Girardin

Chapter 3. Climate Change and Semi-arid Regions in Latin America Threats and Challenges

Abstract

This chapter refers to the threats and challenges of semi-arid regions in Latin America related to climate change. According to the definition of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the vulnerability of a system to the adverse effects of both climate variability and change is a multidimensional phenomenon, which is a function of the exposure to the phenomenon, the sensitivity to it, and the adaptive capacity (or resilience) that the system possesses. It is expected that in the near future, Latin America and the Caribbean will face serious consequences as a result of climate change. These effects will not be evenly distributed and some semi-arid areas of the region will be particularly affected. This study specifically addresses four key areas: the Gran Chaco in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay; the Northeast of Brazil; the Venezuelan Coast; and the so-called Central American Semi-arid Belt. These regions are very important for the countries involved, mainly because of their role in agricultural production and consequently in food security and economic activity in their respective societies; hence the importance of analyzing the potential impacts and possible adaptation measures that can be developed.

Leonidas Osvaldo Girardin

Chapter 4. Energy and Climate Change: Challenges for Low-Carbon Development

Abstract

This chapter describes the impact of the energy sector in climate change, both from the point of view of its importance in the international negotiation process to find a sustainable solution to the problem and its responsibility for the increase in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the opportunities for adaptation and mitigation presented by the sector. On the other hand, some challenges that arise in the implementation of policies and measures to address the problem are analyzed.

Leonidas Osvaldo Girardin

Chapter 5. Socioeconomic and Political Aspects of Climate Change. The Role of the Clean Development Mechanism and Other Market-Based Mechanisms in Contributing to the Ultimate Objective of the UNFCCC and Sustainable Development. A Latin American Point of View of the Situation After the Paris Agreement

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the role of the Clean Development Mechanism and other Market-based Mechanisms in contributing to the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Sustainable Development. A Latin American Point of View of the situation after the Paris Agreement. Latin America was a pioneer region in terms of its early participation in emission reduction and/or limitation mechanisms. This situation occurred even before the issue was installed with force in other regions, later very active in the use of the mechanism, mainly China and Southeast Asia. However, this did not result in “advantages” for the region, in terms of investment settlement or to establish better conditions in the international negotiation within the framework of the UNFCCC. This situation leads to what in some previous documents has been called “certain discouragement of the region with respect to the CDM”. It is interesting to explore how this can play in the deepening of the commitments of Latin America with the prevention of climate change, and although this objective far exceeds the scope of this brief document, we will try to raise some issues that cannot be overlooked and try to interpret the problem. More than 20 years after the Kyoto Protocol (KP), a consensual, binding, and ambitious international climate agreement is still being sought. However, substantive decisions continue to be postponed. In short, it is impossible for a market to survive without demand. And the demand arises from the degree of rigor that exists in the fulfillment of the commitments that are assumed and to what extent these commitments imply a real effort to reduce emissions.

Leonidas Osvaldo Girardin

Chapter 6. Regional Study on the Economics of Climate Change in South America. Argentine Chapter (ERECCS-Argentina). ECLAC

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief summary of the results of the Regional Study on Economics of Climate Change in South America (ERECCS) for Argentina, presenting the main results obtained in the attempt of monetary valuation of the expected impacts of climate change and the measures, both for Adaptation and Mitigation that were identified throughout the development of the study.

Leonidas Osvaldo Girardin

Chapter 7. Forest Fires in Australia: Are We Inevitably “In the Oven” Also in Argentina?

Abstract

This chapter describes Australian forest fires, occurred last south-hemisphere summer (2019/2020) that had catastrophic effects on vegetation, wildlife, environment, and economy and how these fires could be an useful experience to Argentina. Although forest fires in Australia are common and generally have natural causes—although it cannot be ruled out that some events could be intentional—this time these events have some unique characteristics: (a) they started much earlier than usual; (b) occur in a very particular local, regional, and global climate context that combines extreme heat, prolonged drought, and strong winds with factors linked to the dynamics of the climate in the Indian Ocean and a greater probability of occurrence and magnitude of forest fires globally; (c) economic issues (agribusiness); and (d) political factors, that prioritize specific sectoral interests. Major worse evils can always be avoided when society is prepared. The challenge for Argentina is to be prepared so that the forest fires that occur in different regions of the country at different times of the year do not generate catastrophic effects. For this, it is essential to have adequate strategies and policies. Climate change does not help, but even less inaction, unlearning, and neglecting to think that everything is magically solved by the market.

Leonidas Osvaldo Girardin

Titel: Socioeconomic and Geopolitical Aspects of Global Climate Change
verfasst von: Leonidas Osvaldo Girardin
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-53246-7
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-53245-0
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53246-7