Writing Sample

International Cooperation for Climate Change

The global politics has recognize the issue of climate change as a major
political concern since late 1980s. From that period, climate change attracts more
attention than any other environmental problems. The complexity of this issue has
been one of the roots of global political conflict within the North and also the
relation between the North and the South. Parallel to this political context,
international law accommodates climate change issue and provides major
component of climate regime.
One of the prominent actors advocating climate change issue is the United
Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCC). UNFCC aims to
produce international agreements and strengthen international cooperation on
climate change prior to the adoption of the Climate Convention at the Rio Summit in
1992. Many multilateral negotiations and agreements were created in respect to the
implementation of the provisions in Climate Convention. One of the most dramatic
process in reaching an international agreement in climate change is the Kyoto
Protocol. Kyoto Protocol process was highlighted as the first time that states agreed
to reduce emission as well as the first multilateral environmental agreement on
global emission trading.
Unfortunately, the spirit from Kyoto is not well sustained. Most countries
prioritize their strategic policy to tackle the economic recession rather than
environmental problem. Other than that, the reluctance of big emitters to reach the
same agreement on the level of greenhouse gas also render this issue weak. That
being said, global community is still challenged to create international regulatory
framework for combating climate change.
Annual negotiation are subsequently held by the parties of the UNFCC since
the enactment of Bali Roadmap in 2007. Despite the disappointment from
Copenhagen Climate Conference (2009) and rather slow movement in Cancun
(2010) and Durban process (2011), international community has somehow
successful in making small development one step at a time. Hopes finally spring
from the latest round of multilateral negotiation in Doha (2012) which indicates a
significant progress. There is still no new agreement on the limit of greenhouse gas
emission. However, the goverments agreed to focus on establishing a new
international agreement in 2015 to then come into force by 2020.
Finally, historical background shows rather fluctuate interest among states on
climate change negotiation. It is depend on the cooperation between international
actors, especially states, for mainstreaming climate change issue and establishing
a more comprehensive international law framework on climate change. More
significant actors will likely to emerge and involve in the process to elevate climate

changes stance in global arena. For example, the emerging economies would also
likely to play bigger role to determine the future of this issue.

Sources
Books
C.P. Carlane. Climate Change Law and Policy : EU and US Approaches. Oxford
University Press. 2010
J. Spier. Shaping the Law for Global Crisis. Eleven. 2012
S. Andresen, E.L Boasson, G. Henneland (ed). International Environmental
Agreements. Routledge. 2012
Websites
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/dec/10/doha-domestic-policyclimate-change. Download at 23 October 2013
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/dec/12/china-us-global-climate-deal.
Download at 23 October 2013