Democratization and the issue of climate change in Brazil 1987-1994

The paper describes the development of Brazilian positions and policies related to the issue of climate change during the 1987–1994 period. The main focus of the paper is on the political conflicts connected to the most important Brazilian source of greenhouse gas emissions, namely deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia. It is argued that the democratic election of president Collor as a new Brazilian president in 1989 spurred the transition to a more cooperative position on the issue of climate change. This happened because Collor perceived the improvement of Brazil's environmental record as an essential pre-condition for the fulfilment of his economic liberalisation programme, and because his position as the first democratically elected president since 1961 facilitated an increased political distance to the military and regional business groups sceptical to reforms. A modified version of the paper will appear as a chapter in G. Fermann (ed.): The politics of climate change, Scandinavian University Press 1996

Avgifter som virkemiddel i klimapolitikken i noen europeiske land

Mens bruken av avgifter som virkemiddel i klimapolitikken overfor næringslivet har hatt motvind i Norge de siste årene, har flere europeiske land siden begynnelsen av 90-tallet vist stigende interesse for å skattlegge utslippene fra sine bedrifter. Det er også en økende interesse i EU sentralt for å benytte avgifter som virkemiddel. Nedenfor følger en kortfattet oversikt over klimarelaterte avgifter i noen europeiske land. Det er et særlig fokus på noen av de "grønne" (og rike) statene innenfor EU som har hatt den raskeste utviklingen i bruken av miljøavgifter i klimapolitikken på 90-tallet; nemlig Tyskland, Danmark og Nederland. I tillegg til disse tar jeg for meg Storbritannia, der avgifter nylig har blitt en viktig del av virkemiddelbruken. En viktig hensikt med dette notatet er å bringe et komparativt perspektiv inn i den norske debatten om miljøavgifter og klima. I Norge har enkelte aktører beskrevet forsøkene på å satse på avgifter som virkemiddel overfor industrien som "særnorsk". Derfor vil virkemiddelbruken overfor industrien få spesiell oppmerksomhet. En viktig konklusjon fra dette notatet er at avgifter i stigende, om enn varierende grad er et virkemiddel som anvendes av viktige europeiske land overfor industri og næringsliv. I tillegg kan notatet gi aktuell bakgrunnsinformasjon for den pågående gasskraftdebatten i Norge. Ser man på alle disse landene, foregår det en omfattende satsing på mindre karbonintensive energikilder og forskjellige tiltak for å redusere kullets andel av energibruk og energiforsyning er allerede underveis. I tillegg til satsingen på fornybar energi, foregår det en betydelig overgang fra bruk av kull til naturgass i energiforsyningen, og en intensiv utbygging av gassdrevne kraftvarmeverk med høy energiutnyttelse. Det er naturligvis derfor et åpent spørsmål om norsk gasskraft vil bidra i særlig grad til den prosessen som nå foregår i retning av reduksjon av kullkraft i Europa, og også om eksporten av gasskraft til land som er i ferd med å utvide kapasiteten til effektive kraftvarmeverk basert på gass

Explaining emission tax exemptions for heavy industries : a comparison of Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands

The paper addresses the widespread pattern of exempting heavily polluting industries from greenhouse gas emission taxes. Two groups of explanations of exemptions are outlined. The first group focuses on the economic importance of exempted industries as the main explanatory factor. The second group of explanations is centered on factors that influence the political power and influence of emission intensive industries. These two groups of explanations are applied to understand the varying patterns of exemptions in Norway, the Netherlands and Denmark. It is argued that while some emission-intensive industries in Norway and the Netherlands are largely exempted from taxes, Danish emission-intensive industries enjoy exemptions to a more limited extent. This contrast is tried explained by applying explanations based on the economic importance and the political power and influence of these industries. The paper concludes that explanations based on the economic importance of exempted industries are very important to make us able to understand variations of exemptions. However, explanations based on factors that influence the political power of the exempted industries should also be investigated. In many cases, these factors supplement explanations based on economic importance, and in some cases produce outcomes that explanations based on the industry’s economic importance fail to account for

The Second-Image Reversed and Climate Policy: How International Influences Helped Changing Brazil’s Positions on Climate Change

Engelsk sammendrag (abstract): International climate policy over the last 7–8 years has been characterized by the increasing involvement of developing countries. While COP-13 at Bali marked a stronger willingness to participate in mitigation efforts in principle, there are now numerous examples of domestic programs for mitigation by this group of countries. Brazil has gone furthest among developing countries, with a substantial voluntary commitment to reduce its emissions proclaimed in 2009. The dynamics behind the change in Brazil’s position are discussed, with a particular eye to the effects of international influences. In conjunction with important domestic changes, a set of interacting influences through a variety of pathways both changed preferences among important interest groups in Brazilian society towards favoring some kind of commitments and helped to change the structure of government forums and decision-making rules in a way that empowered reform-minded ministries. It is argued that this perspective, drawn from Peter Gourevitch’s idea of the ―second image reversed‖, is increasingly relevant for understanding the influence of the broad ―regime complex‖ on climate change on politics in developing countries

Fossekraft, oljerigger og regnskog – om den norske klimapolitikkens paradokser

Konferansebidrag ved Sosiologforeningens Vinterkonferanse, 25.01.13-27.01.13.Fra første slide: Dette foredraget: En kort oversikt over norsk klimapolitikk: -fra tidlig «kuttentusiasme» til «kostnadseffektivitet» og videre til «snever teknologipolitikk» og «kvotekjøp». Hvorfor har det blitt sånn? : - en spesiell energisituasjon og næringsstruktur (vannkraft, olje, elektro-kjemisk industri), - (fremdeles) sterke korporative koplinger mellom stat, arbeid, kapital (og regioner) i energinæringene, - og sterk innflytelse fra handlingsfiendtlige økonomer. Hva er konsekvensene?: - svak mobilisering blant forbrukere, borgere og lokalsamfunn, - svekkes mulighetene for et bredt sosiologisk engasjement? - kontrast til Sverige

The Second-Image Reversed and Climate Policy: How International Influences Helped Changing Brazil’s Positions on Climate Change

International climate policy over the last 7–8 years has been characterized by the increasing involvement of developing countries. While COP-13 at Bali marked a stronger willingness to participate in mitigation efforts in principle, there are now numerous examples of domestic programs for mitigation by this group of countries. Brazil has gone furthest among developing countries, with a substantial voluntary commitment to reduce its emissions proclaimed in 2009. The dynamics behind the change in Brazil’s position are discussed, with a particular eye to the effects of international influences. In conjunction with important domestic changes, a set of interacting influences through a variety of pathways both changed preferences among important interest groups in Brazilian society towards favoring some kind of commitments and helped to change the structure of government forums and decision-making rules in a way that empowered reform-minded ministries. It is argued that this perspective, drawn from Peter Gourevitch’s idea of the “second image reversed”, is increasingly relevant for understanding the influence of the broad “regime complex” on climate change on politics in developing countries

Reforestation and climate change mitigation : a background study for joint implementation in China and Indonesia

This paper discusses the importance of institutional barriers in promoting reforestation as a means of mitigating global climate change. It is argued that cost-effective implementation of reforestation depends on proper institutional settings in host countries. The study is motivated by the growing interest for reforestation projects in developing countries through the Joint Implementation (JI) mechanism. Particular emphasis is given to the role of property rights. The relationship between various stakeholders, such as governments, NGOs, the private sector, and international aid agencies is analyzed. Discussed aspects include conflicts among stakeholders, long-term security or stability of property rights regimes, distribution of property rights, and information exchange. The forest situation in China and Indonesia is used as an illustrative example. The study outlines a number of conflicts in the property rights regime which need a better understanding. Important questions for further research include: (1) What are the underlying conditions that affect the design and implementation of reforestation programs? (2) Who are the main actors involved in forest management, and which are their respective roles and motivations? (3) To what extent and in what ways do property rights affect the cost-effectiveness of reforestation efforts? (4) What policy instruments can be developed or improved to facilitate reforestation programs? and (5) What are the relevant institutional frameworks and/or arrangements to be used in JI for reforestation programs? What institutional changes would be brought up through such programs