Essay Topics

1. With reference to the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,

assess the extent to which scientific evidence has established with certainty that
climate change is taking lace.
!. "val#ate the main factors that contrib#te to the s#ccess or fail#re of efforts at the
international level to deliver global action on climate change, with secific
reference to the $%&CCC and climate change conferences in recent years.
'. (ow imortant is the "$ as an actor in the climate change olicy rocess) *this
can be answered by looking at its "xternal role +%,-./ its internal actions and
olicies0
1. 2he roblem with climate change is that those most affected have least
resonsibility for its ca#ses. Consider this statement with reference to at least one
regional organi3ation.
44nb 2(I5 I5 %.2 + 6$"52I.% +7.$2 2(" "$8
9. 2o what extent can the roblem of climate change be sec#riti3ed)
:. +ssess the form#lation and effectiveness of climate change policies in relation to
a co#ntry ;or co#ntries< of yo#r choice.
=. Consider the nat#re of climate change politics in relation to a co#ntry ;or
co#ntries< of yo#r choice.
>. "val#ate the extent to which action on climate change has been characteri3ed by a
search for technical fixes and a b#siness?as?#s#al aroach. +nswer with
reference to "I2("/ energy, ./ transort, ./ agric#lt#re, ./ food.
@. What ca#ses climate change and what are its main imacts likely to be)
1A. +ssess the claim that there is a mismatch between awareness of climate change
and the willingness of individ#als to do something abo#t it.
11. Progress to towards a low carbon economy and society is slow beca#se of the
infl#ence of cr#cial economic and olitical interests which erceive it as a threat.
,isc#ss.
1!. 2o what extent can changes in ersonal lifestyles rovide an effective resonse to
climate change)
1'. With reference to debates abo#t climate change, critically examine the arg#ment
that it is ossible to have a caitalist economy which is steady state or no
growth.
11. Consider the otential for grass roots olitical mobili3ation aro#nd climate change
and the obstacles that this faces.
"xtra B#estions? I co#ld choose from b#t need t#tor arovalC
1. Is it either ossible or desirable to sec#riti3e climate change)
!. What ca#ses climate change and what are its main imacts likely to be)
'. In relation to "I2("/ energy ./ agric#lt#re and food, assess the extent to which olicy
resonses to climate change have been characteri3ed by a search for technical fixes rather
than an attemt to change behavio#r.
1. +ssess the exlanations for why, desite the weight of scientific evidence, some eole
deny that climate change is haening.
9. (ow acc#rate is it to say that the aroach of $D governments to climate change has been
strong on rhetoric b#t weak in actions.
:. 2he $nited 5tates sho#ld be a EleaderF in climate change olitics b#t instead is a
ElaggardF. ,o yo# agree) Give reasons for yo#r answer.
=. Climate change can only roerly be tackled if there is a f#ndamental reassessment of the
caitalist system and its foc#s on economic growth. ,isc#ss.
>. "val#ate the imortance of the "$ in climate change olitics with reference to "I2("/ its
external role ./ its internal olicies.
@. 2he roblem with climate change is that those most affected have least resonsibility for
its ca#ses. Consider this statement with reference to at least one regional organi3ation
reresenting develoing nations or emerging economies.
1A. /ed#cing the #se of rivate cars is the only way to achieve s#bstantial emissions
red#ctions from the transort sector. Comment on this statement.
11. "val#ate the reasons for the fail#re to agree a rob#st relacement for the Dyoto Protocol.
+nswer with secific reference to climate change s#mmits in recent years.
1!. "I2("/ Consider the view that there is a mismatch between awareness of climate change
and the willingness of individ#als to do something abo#t it.
./ 2o what extent does the effective resonse to climate change reB#ire radical changes in
ersonal lifestyles)