The topic we will explore is climate change and energy supply. The Caerphilly Youth Forum cabinet voted this as the issue to discuss at the ‘It’s Our Europe’ conference. We agree that this issue is a worldwide crisis worth discussing at European level, as consequences of climate change can already be seen in Europe and worldwide, and these impacts are predicted to intensify in the coming decades. We have seen some of the impacts not only at a local level with floods in Wales in the past few months, but also at a worldwide level with recent natural disasters in the news.
Are people aware of climate change? Are there positives and negatives?
Part of this discussion is to explore whether people are aware of climate change and its immense impact it can have upon them including the positive changes and the negative.
We argue that EU citizens are aware of global warming as EU citizens class global warming as the second most serious problem facing the world today. One in five surveyed said climate change was the single most serious problem. The only issue perceived to be more serious is poverty (Climate Change Report, European Commission, 2011). However, even though EU emissions are decreasing, worldwide emissions are continuing to grow and so the EU should connect with countries such as china, America and India to pressure and support them to decrease their ever-increasing contribution to global warming. The EU have been committed to the Kyoto agreement however there is evidence to suggest that some developing countries have not been as dedicated as the EU to this agreement.
There has been debate over the positive and negative aspects associated with global warming and even whether it will happen. Evidence suggests that the negatives are outweighed by the positives, and proves climate change is happening, and it is happening now. When the last special climate survey was conducted there was a positive view of the economic benefits of tackling climate change and 78% believed that it would boost the economy. Some of the positives that will be a result of climate change are: improved agriculture in some areas of the world, a new shipping lane that would be created by melting ice and an improved cod yield. However obviously there are a greater number of negatives that would be a result of global warming such as: rising sea levels, increased chance of war, increased number of natural disasters, expanded deserts, increase in mosquito spread diseases and methane leaking from Siberia. The most damaging factor is the increasing average surface temperature of the earth in the last hundred years occurring at a rate unseen before rising by 0.6-0.7C, this may not sound like much but slight temperature changes have detrimental effects on the world caused by humans.
Who is affected by climate change?
Scientists are warning of the grave effects of global warming and its impact on people all over the world. We have discovered that global warming has a knock on affect on all life on earth. The effects to people on the ground, such as decline in agriculture – climate changes affecting the land internationally, tourism – lack of snow in the alps, people losing land/houses - through natural disasters and rising sea levels, less resources – oil, gas and food, unstable seasonal patterns, are just a small number of many problems we will face in the future if we do not combat climate change. The poorest people will be the worst hit communities in the world resulting in greater amounts of poverty due to their vulnerability to natural disasters affecting their housing, wellbeing, food supply and the lack of support for the poorest communities.
Why is Climate Change and Energy Supply a European matter of concern?
We believe that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the modern world and is a key concern for the European public. We feel it is our duty to conserve our planet for future generations, and as the next generation, climate change will have a greater effect on our lives more than the effect on the lives of the current adult generation. It is seen as the second most serious issue facing the world after hunger, poverty and lack of drinking water, and can also be seen as a more serious problem than the current economic situation. In a recent climate change report from the European commission (published 2011) citizens were asked who they thought was responsible for talking climate change within the EU. Voted as the most responsible was the National Governments, followed very closely by the European Union, then the business/industry category. The report stated that more than four in ten citizens accept some form of individual responsibility, but these same people still see a clear shift of responsibility towards the Government and the EU.
The fight against climate change, focused on the EU’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, is at the heart of the Europe 2020 strategy for sustainable growth. This is seen as climate action that the developed world needs to take as a whole, and is also seen to have a positive view on the economy as there are many benefits of talking climate change. The EU has the power to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change, which is why it needs to be discussed and addressed at European level. Success in the EU could prompt countries throughout the world to realise that they can also have a positive impact, as we can only be successful if the world works to address this issue, and acts now.
Which other aspects must be taken into consideration?
We think that the other aspects that must be taken into consideration are:
· Current attitudes and ideas in and around consumerism.
e.g. Flying is seen to be one of the main contributing factors to greenhouse emissions, and one way in which the world is tackling this, is by introducing air taxes, but, when considering people’s attitudes towards this, these concepts may not be having a huge influence in changing people’s views, as many are just accepting this as the cost of the lifestyle they want to live.
· Whether climate change is a purely ecological topic or whether economic aspects play a role.
e.g. Climate change is seen to have a direct effect on major weather disasters worldwide, and a major part of these disasters is the aftermath that comes with them. There is huge economic strain that goes alongside clean up operations around the world.
· Will an aging society have only social or also economic consequences.
