Drawing on my previous blog “Coming
Clean at COP21”, I wish to enhance the important role of the public in COP21.
As an international agreement, affecting everybody on the planet, I believe
that the process of negotiations should be turned inside-out out with public
voices informing political and economic responses – as opposed to being spoken
for by those in power.
“When you are dealing with the risks posed by climate change, you must
play to win… or people will die”
Drawing strange (yet effective)
parallels with the phenomenon Game of
Thrones, Foran
(2015) highlights how COP21 is a game with very serious consequences. From
the recurring phrase “Winter is Coming”, Foran translates the never-ending
global warming suffered most by the poorer nations of the world’s “Global
South”.
So what’s the common denominator
here?
People. People playing the game.
People affected by the game’s outcomes.
Applying a Marxist perspective, Foran
(2015) argues we should say “NO” to COP21 (controversial), however he
successfully stresses the importance for a ‘just climate future’ and the need
to tell the world ‘the full truth about climate change’ through mediums with
stretch beyond IPCC reports – something I whole-heartedly agree with. Arguing
for the decentralization of decision-making, it is crucial that we educate the
world and give the public the voice to improve and challenge the political and
economic powers controlling our futures.
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| McGrath (2015) BBC News
But what does COP21 actually mean
for us?
McGrath (2015)
puts this simply: ‘there are wins and losses for every country taking part’.
For ‘low-lying islands’ and poor nations the COP21 agreement ‘offers hope’ (Kinver, 2015).
For those living in industrialised and developed nations, ‘decarbonisation’
will take its place as the new heartbeat of finance and government departments.
The effects of this transition will undoubtedly spill into the domestic sphere,
increasing tax and commodity costs: clothing, food, petrol etc - relying
heavily on public support to turn this “green future” into a reality.
 
Although many people will read this
and think it unfair for the public to take on the responsibility of the large
corporations that have dumped this climate dilemma upon us, like Boyd and
Hume (2015), I believe that ‘education at all levels’ has the power to
generate public enthusiasm and ‘community responsibility’ to contribute to
climate mitigation. A key aspect of COP21 is Article 6: ‘Education, training
and public awareness’, recognising the importance of providing an ‘outward-looking
social focus and… public resource for learning’ in winning the climate change
game.
Do you have a sufficient "knowledge base" to battle climate change?
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Hi Caitlin! A very thought-provoking read! I completely agree that the wider public should have a greater role to play in decision making about climate change. However, I certainly feel like my power in decision-making, despite being someone who is (fairly!) educated on the subject, is basically just restricted to attempting to change the minds of the people in power, e.g. through public campaigns and petitions. Therefore this makes me a bit sceptical as to whether education would actually allow the public to become more involved in climate change mitigation - or whether it's really always just going to be a power-play between politicians and the likes? What are your thoughts?
ReplyDeleteHi Shruti, thank you!
DeleteYes I completely agree with you in that sense, however if educated, wider society will be more likely to make changes in the home to contribute to national climate mitigation. However I do understand what you're saying - but surely the only way to make changes to the top is by motivating the public to challenge them? I think the addition of Article 6 to the COP21 is a step in the right direction?
Thank you for your comment!
Have to agree with Shruti here, I too am sceptical about what power even the more educated members of the public really have. With the current first-past-the-post system, the government really do not reflect the values of the people of this country. I am a great proponent of improving education of environmental issues, but I don't know how effective it will be sadly. It's quite disheartening, as a tutor, to explain environmental issues to students and see that they just don't really care, certainly not enough to change their behaviours. Unfortunately, it might be a case of the value-action gap - perhaps we need some inadvertent environmentalism?
ReplyDeleteHi Ben, thank you for your comment!
DeleteYes I understand what you're saying, perhaps I'm being too optimistic! However, I do think that education is a crucial step towards achieving the targets set at COP21, even educating politicians to a degree!
The sad reality is, like you say, people don't care... and they'll only start caring when they are directly affected by climate change... I hope that education help bridge this gap and yes, perhaps inadvertent environmentalism will help to achieve this!
Hi Caitlin! Interesting blog post!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that I feel pretty much powerless and have no influence on decision making at COP21. I'm also really disappointed that immediately after COP21, the Tory government cut subsidies to solar panels by as much as 65%! It makes it seem as though it's all a game, and discussions do not translate to policy making
Hi Celia, thanks for your response!
DeleteYes, I feel your pain, especially after the COP21 seminar we had! It's funny you mention that actually, I have done another post in response to the subsidy cut - if you're interested take a look: http://domesticdilemma.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/feeling-heat-uks-solar-panel-subsidy.html
I agree, if such decisions are made then what was the point to COP21? The initial celebrations of COP21 may need to be renegotiated... I only hope it won't come to that!
Thanks for you comment!