Wilson Perspectives: The Paris Climate Agreement
With COP21, Paris has placed renewed commitment on the shoulders of the largest developed and developing economies and embraced the aspirations of the most vulnerable nations. Wilson Perspectives: The Paris Climate Agreement outlines how Paris has forged an accord that, despite its shortcomings, provides for a global architecture to build a safe, prosperous, and climate-resilient future.
Foreword
by Jane Harman
In each edition of Wilson Perspectives, our top experts put breaking news in context. Leveraging our broad focus on the issues and our deep expertise in key regions, this collection frames last month’s landmark climate talks in Paris. Embracing the spirit of the 'high ambition coalition,' nations around the world promised to take a dizzying range of steps toward a safer, more prosperous, more resilient future. Here, we explore the key issues and chief questions.
Introduction
A New Era for Climate Diplomacy
by Roger-Mark De Souza
Climate Diplomacy
The Climate Community Turns to Pragmatism, Mostly
Ruth Greenspan Bell examines the pragmatism of climate diplomacy coming out of the Paris negotiations.
Climate Security
An Empty Table? Food-Climate-Conflict Connections in Paris
Meaghan Parker and Roger-Mark De Souza outline the growing recognition of climate and fragility links to security issues, especially food security, and how they were addressed at COP21.
Loss and Damage
Not Fully Lost and Damaged: How Loss and Damage Fared in the Paris Agreement
Saleem Huq and Roger-Mark De Souza give a developing country perspective on loss and damage and the implications for the Warsaw International Mechanism post-COP21.
Implications for Small Island States
Small Island States and the Paris Agreement
Maxine Burkett addresses how the financial and legal questions for small island states were examined and future implications.
Climate Displacement
Environmental Refugees
James Hollifield links climate change and migration, with a focus on refugees.
Meeting National Commitments—The Case of Canada
Federalism and Climate Policy, Canada-Style
Barry Rabe looks at Canada’s solution to meeting a national commitment despite dispersal of the authority for action among a number of provinces—a model for others?
Contributors
Roger-Mark De Souza
Former Director of Population, Environmental Security, and Resilience
Ruth Greenspan Bell
Visiting Scholar, Environmental Law Institute; Research Associate, Columbia University Business School’s Center for Decision Sciences
Meaghan Parker
Chair, Future Council of the Society of Environmental Journalists
James Hollifield
Professor of Political Science and Director, Tower Center SMU
Maxine Burkett
Barry Rabe
Arthur Thurnau Professor of Environmental Policy and the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Professor at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan
Environmental Change and Security Program
The Environmental Change and Security Program (ECSP) explores the connections between environmental change, health, and population dynamics and their links to conflict, human insecurity, and foreign policy. Read more
Global Risk and Resilience Program
The Global Risk and Resilience Program (GRRP) seeks to support the development of inclusive, resilient networks in local communities facing global change. By providing a platform for sharing lessons, mapping knowledge, and linking people and ideas, GRRP and its affiliated programs empower policymakers, practitioners, and community members to participate in the global dialogue on sustainability and resilience. Empowered communities are better able to develop flexible, diverse, and equitable networks of resilience that can improve their health, preserve their natural resources, and build peace between people in a changing world. Read more
