Discuss the contribution that international environmental negotiations and agreements

Four or five questions will be drawn from the questions listed below (with the exact same wording).
For preparation draw both on lectures and reading assignments. When developing your answers be as
specific as possible and avoid using vague, general and repetitive statements. Address each subquestion in a paragraph or two. It will help to clearly mark which sub question you are responding to.
Use full sentences, don’t just use keywords and bullet points. Answers don’t need to be long, depending
on your hand writing about 1 to 1 ½ blue book page. Do not write long, vague answers that cover
ground that does not address the question directly. You may get penalized for this type of broad
generality.

Please note the following:
– Neither I, or our TA will review draft answers you may develop in preparation for the final based on
this study guide. This is about you developing answers to the final questions to the best of your
knowledge and understanding by reviewing your notes and the reading material.
– If you have specific substantive questions or need clarification on something, you can send me an
email. But again, we will not review and approve fully worded paragraphs.
Final questions will be drawn from the following questions:

Question 1: Discuss the contribution that international environmental negotiations and agreements
have made towards global environmental protection (in terms of actual results, process and timing (how
have negotiations usually evolved).
A) In what ways do you consider agreements discussed in class (a) to have failed, (b) to have succeeded?
B) Illustrate your analysis with reference to examples discussed in class (such as the Montreal Protocol,
the Climate and the Biodiversity Conventions.)
C) How are current negotiation outcomes on climate change and biodiversity similar or different from
earlier environmental negotiations.

Question 2: International cooperation among sovereign nation states towards a global common good is
considered a collective action problem with free-riding at its core.
A) Explain what the free rider problem is in abstract terms.
B) In an international setting without a government that can impose mandatory commitments on
different countries, what – in theoretical terms – can help to create the conditions for cooperation?
C) What roles can non-state actors like international environmental organizations and international
organizations play to encourage cooperation among nation states? Give two examples of negotiating
processes in which the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as played an important role.
D) In general terms, why is financing such a core element of global environmental negotiations?
(compared to the practical fact that money helps implement concrete projects and programs).
GLOB161, Final Study Guide, March 18, 2023
2
Question 3: The loss of biodiversity around the world is considered a global problem.
A) Briefly discuss what we know about current trends, give some examples?
B) Why should we worry about the loss in biodiversity and decline in populations of various plant and
animal species, locally and globally?
C) To what extent is an economic approach (valuation, cost-benefit) to biodiversity conservation and
ecosystem preservation useful, what are its limitations and why? (Various course readings are relevant
to this question).
Question 4: The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD)
A) Identify the key provisions (objectives and legal commitments) of the 1992 Convention on
Biodiversity.
B) Discuss the main political interests developing and developed countries had when negotiating the
CBD.
C) Discuss the outcome of the Kunming-Montreal CBD Conference (COP15) of December 2022. Of the 23
targets adopted, identify three of the headline targets most covered in the press, and three other
targets adopted that may be less generally known.
Question 5: Discuss how US climate and energy policy has evolved since 1992.
A) What do you see as key societal and political factors that broadly explain American energy and
climate policy?
B) After the US Congress has tried and failed in 1992 and 2009 to pass climate relevant legislation, it
narrowly succeeded for the first time in 2022. What is the Act called, what key climate relevant
provisions does it contain?
C) What do you think is the best way forward for the US on climate change? What kind of policy
measures do you consider most promising, given the political constellation?
(This will not be graded, I am interested in your opinion).
Question 6: Compare the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Climate Agreement.
A) Explain the key elements of the Kyoto Protocol architecture (commitments and ways to achieve
them).
B) Explain what the Paris Climate Agreement commits countries to do.
C) How close is the world to achieving the Paris climate objectives? How do you see the coming years
unfold? Why are you pessimistic, why optimistic that a rapid decarbonization can be achieved and why?
This will not be graded, I am interested in your opinion.
Question 7: The European Union has been the driving force behind climate negotiations over the last 3
decades, while the United States has been an inconsistent partner in the negotiations at best.
A) Identify the main general position the EU has taken in international climate negotiations, and its most
recent concrete commitment.
B) How do you explain the EU leadership role on this global problem as compared to the US?
C) A core instrument adopted by the EU was the 2005 emissions trading mechanism (which California
has adopted in similar form later). Explain the basic idea behind emissions trading and how it works
within a country and between countries.
GLOB161, Final Study Guide, March 18, 2023
3
Question 8: Trade and Environment: Global environmental agreements and negotiations operate within
the constraints of the broader international order and economic system.
A) What are considered scale and structural effects of trade liberalization?
B) What are the two key provisions of international trade rules as enshrined in the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and overseen by the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
C) In what ways do trade rules make it difficult for countries to impose carbon taxes at the domestic
level (such as on their export-oriented industries) or stricter environmental standards on imported
goods?
Question 9: The Global Environment Facility was set up in 1991 before the Rio Conference took place in
1992 at which both the Convention on Climate Change and Biodiversity were signed.
A) Explain the institutional set-up of the GEF and its funding principles.
B) What focal areas does the GEF cover and what is the approximate annual funding level.
C) What are the most important ways in which one can say the GEF has contributed to addressing global
environmental problems? What can we expect from GEF projects? (See also reading Batra, et al. A Case
of the Global Environment Facility).Four or five questions will be drawn from the questions listed below (with the exact same wording).
For preparation draw both on lectures and reading assignments. When developing your answers be as
specific as possible and avoid using vague, general and repetitive statements. Address each subquestion in a paragraph or two. It will help to clearly mark which sub question you are responding to.
Use full sentences, don’t just use keywords and bullet points. Answers don’t need to be long, depending
on your hand writing about 1 to 1 ½ blue book page. Do not write long, vague answers that cover
ground that does not address the question directly. You may get penalized for this type of broad
generality.
Please note the following:
– Neither I, or our TA will review draft answers you may develop in preparation for the final based on
this study guide. This is about you developing answers to the final questions to the best of your
knowledge and understanding by reviewing your notes and the reading material.
– If you have specific substantive questions or need clarification on something, you can send me an
email. But again, we will not review and approve fully worded paragraphs.
Final questions will be drawn from the following questions:
Question 1: Discuss the contribution that international environmental negotiations and agreements
have made towards global environmental protection (in terms of actual results, process and timing (how
have negotiations usually evolved).
A) In what ways do you consider agreements discussed in class (a) to have failed, (b) to have succeeded?
B) Illustrate your analysis with reference to examples discussed in class (such as the Montreal Protocol,
the Climate and the Biodiversity Conventions.)
C) How are current negotiation outcomes on climate change and biodiversity similar or different from
earlier environmental negotiations.
Question 2: International cooperation among sovereign nation states towards a global common good is
considered a collective action problem with free-riding at its core.
A) Explain what the free rider problem is in abstract terms.
B) In an international setting without a government that can impose mandatory commitments on
different countries, what – in theoretical terms – can help to create the conditions for cooperation?
C) What roles can non-state actors like international environmental organizations and international
organizations play to encourage cooperation among nation states? Give two examples of negotiating
processes in which the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as played an important role.
D) In general terms, why is financing such a core element of global environmental negotiations?
(compared to the practical fact that money helps implement concrete projects and programs).
GLOB161, Final Study Guide, March 18, 2023
2
Question 3: The loss of biodiversity around the world is considered a global problem.
A) Briefly discuss what we know about current trends, give some examples?
B) Why should we worry about the loss in biodiversity and decline in populations of various plant and
animal species, locally and globally?
C) To what extent is an economic approach (valuation, cost-benefit) to biodiversity conservation and
ecosystem preservation useful, what are its limitations and why? (Various course readings are relevant
to this question).
Question 4: The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD)
A) Identify the key provisions (objectives and legal commitments) of the 1992 Convention on
Biodiversity.
B) Discuss the main political interests developing and developed countries had when negotiating the
CBD.
C) Discuss the outcome of the Kunming-Montreal CBD Conference (COP15) of December 2022. Of the 23
targets adopted, identify three of the headline targets most covered in the press, and three other
targets adopted that may be less generally known.
Question 5: Discuss how US climate and energy policy has evolved since 1992.
A) What do you see as key societal and political factors that broadly explain American energy and
climate policy?
B) After the US Congress has tried and failed in 1992 and 2009 to pass climate relevant legislation, it
narrowly succeeded for the first time in 2022. What is the Act called, what key climate relevant
provisions does it contain?
C) What do you think is the best way forward for the US on climate change? What kind of policy
measures do you consider most promising, given the political constellation?
(This will not be graded, I am interested in your opinion).
Question 6: Compare the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Climate Agreement.
A) Explain the key elements of the Kyoto Protocol architecture (commitments and ways to achieve
them).
B) Explain what the Paris Climate Agreement commits countries to do.
C) How close is the world to achieving the Paris climate objectives? How do you see the coming years
unfold? Why are you pessimistic, why optimistic that a rapid decarbonization can be achieved and why?
This will not be graded, I am interested in your opinion.
Question 7: The European Union has been the driving force behind climate negotiations over the last 3
decades, while the United States has been an inconsistent partner in the negotiations at best.
A) Identify the main general position the EU has taken in international climate negotiations, and its most
recent concrete commitment.
B) How do you explain the EU leadership role on this global problem as compared to the US?
C) A core instrument adopted by the EU was the 2005 emissions trading mechanism (which California
has adopted in similar form later). Explain the basic idea behind emissions trading and how it works
within a country and between countries.
GLOB161, Final Study Guide, March 18, 2023
3
Question 8: Trade and Environment: Global environmental agreements and negotiations operate within
the constraints of the broader international order and economic system.
A) What are considered scale and structural effects of trade liberalization?
B) What are the two key provisions of international trade rules as enshrined in the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and overseen by the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
C) In what ways do trade rules make it difficult for countries to impose carbon taxes at the domestic
level (such as on their export-oriented industries) or stricter environmental standards on imported
goods?
Question 9: The Global Environment Facility was set up in 1991 before the Rio Conference took place in
1992 at which both the Convention on Climate Change and Biodiversity were signed.
A) Explain the institutional set-up of the GEF and its funding principles.
B) What focal areas does the GEF cover and what is the approximate annual funding level.
C) What are the most important ways in which one can say the GEF has contributed to addressing global
environmental problems? What can we expect from GEF projects? (See also reading Batra, et al. A Case
of the Global Environment Facility).

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