The
goals of the writing assignments are to help you:
1) rationalize the participation of your country or group (NGO,
media) in
the protocol and,
2) organize and articulate your arguments for the protocol negotiations.
Writing assignments are done in teams (except for the last one). The
first 4 writings are done with your country or group (NGO, media) team.
The second set of writings is your topic team.
Indicated in parenthesis is which team is to write the paper and the
aproximate length of the paper. Each country or group paper should contain
supporting information and references, if appropriate. Write you paper
from the point of view of your role in this class (e.g., a policy maker
if you are a minister, an NGO representation or a journalist).
A set of rubrics has been prepared to help you prepare and self-assess your writing assignments . There is a general writing rubric to provide you with some guidelines for all your writings and a specific rubric for each writing assignment.
Due dates are indicated on the daily program in the writing column.
July 17 , 2007
WRITING
IN PREPARATION FOR DISCUSSION
•
Tragedy
of the commons (1-2 pages)
Describe the concept of the tragedy of the commons. What are the logic
and the universal forces that drive the tragedy of the commons? How
can the tragedy of the commons apply to the problem of Global Warming?
What are possible strategies to address the Global Warming tragedy of
the commons?
July 18 , 2007
WRITING
1 (rubric1)
• Analysis of a Scientific Paper from the Point of View of a Policy
Maker (countries - 2 pages)
Describe
the key points relevant to a policy maker and explain why these are
relevant.
Analyze page 1 to 5 (left column only on page 5) of the IPCC Summary
for Policy Makers summary.policy.science.pdf. While you read the statements regarding temperature increase,
put yourselves in the shoes of a policy maker. Analyze
each of the key points of this document and describe in your policy
maker words those points that are relevant to your country. List the
scientific questions that you would need to have answered by your country's
scientists in order to proceed with an emission limit policy for your
country in order to contribute to addressing the observed changes.
•Analysis
of a Scientific Paper from a Policy Point of View (NGO)
Describe
the key points relevant to an NGO and explain why these are relevant.
Analyze page 1 to 5 (left column only on page 5) of the IPCC Summary
for Policy Makers summary.policy.science.pdf. While you read the statements regarding temperature increase,
put yourselves in the shoes of an NGO representative. Analyze
each of the key points of this document and describe in your own words
those points that are relevant to your organization. List the scientific
questions that you would need to have answered by the international
scientific community in order to (better) support an international emission
limit policy that would contribute to addressing the observed changes.
•Analysis
of a Scientific Paper from a Policy Point of View (Pro-Oil Lobby)
Describe
the key points relevant to an NGO and explain why these are relevant.
Analyze page 1 to 5 (left column only on page 5) of the IPCC Summary
for Policy Makers summary.policy.science.pdf. While you read the statements regarding temperature increase,
put yourselves in the shoes of an oil enthusiast whose main goal is
to slow down any international emission limit policy. Analyze
each of the key points of this document and describe in your own words
those points that are relevant to your organization. List the scientific
questions that you would need to have answered by the international
scientific community in order to support an international emission limit
policy that would contribute to addressing the observed changes.
•Analysis
of a Scientific Paper from the Point of View of a Policy Maker (media)
Describe the key points relevant to a media representative and explain
why these are relevant.
Analyze page 1 to 5 (left column only) of the IPCC Summary for Policy
Makers summary.policy.science.pdf.
While you read the statements regarding temperature increase, put yourselves
in the shoes of a media representative. Analyze each of the key points
of this document and describe how you present the information to the
public. List the scientific questions that you would need to have answered
by the international scientific community in order to support an international
emission limit policy that would contribute to addressing the observed
changes.
July 19, 2007
WRITING 2 (rubric2)
•
Analysis of scientific basis for GHG emissions limitations (countries
- 2 pages)
Describe the scientific evidence of impacts of global warming on your
country. What is the confidence level for that evidence? Do you believe
that the scientific evidence is strong enough to take some remedial
actions that may have economic consequences? Provide solid examples
of both emission limitations and remedial actions that could be taken
at this time.
• Analysis of scientific
basis for GHG emissions limitations (NGO - 2 pages)
Describe how you would present the scientific evidence of impacts of
global warming on specific areas you have selected as the focus of your
NGO. What is the confidence level for that evidence? Do you believe
that the scientific evidence is strong enough for the world to take
some actions that may have economic consequences? Provide solid examples
of what (if any) action should be taken at this time.
•
Analysis of scientific basis for GHG emissions limitations (Oil
and Energy Lobby- 2 pages)
Describe how you would present the scientific evidence of limited impacts
of global warming on specific areas you have selected as the focus of
lobbying activities. Discuss issues with confidence level for that evidence?
Do you believe that the scientific evidence is not strong enough for
the world to take some actions that may have economic consequences?
Provide solid examples of what (if any) action should or should not
be taken at this time.
Based on you discussions you have had with all sides, present the scientific evidence of impacts of global warming on specific areas you have selected as the focus of this particuloar writing. Discuss issues related with confidence level for that evidence? Discuss both sides of the scientific evidence issues in the context of the world taking some actions that may have economic consequences? Provide solid examples of what (if any) action should or should not be taken at this time.
July 23 , 2007
WRITING
3 (rubric3)
•
Analysis
of economic impacts of global warming and possible remedial actions
(countries - 2 pages)
Outline the positive and negative economic impacts of global warming
for your country and assign a dollar figure to each impact based on
the available data you might be able to find (include references) or
rough estimates you might be able to make. What are the sources and
levels of uncertainty associated with the amounts you quoted? For the
main remedial actions you proposed in your writing #2, assess the potential
evolution of their cost as a function of time before action is taken
and justify the basis for your assessment (i.e., How will the cost of
doing something about global warming change as time passes before something
is done? Identify the best time to take action on global climate change
and show how your analysis of projected costs supports your position
on this issue.)
•
Analysis
of economic impacts of global warming and possible remedial actions
(NGO - 2 pages)
Describe how you would outline the positive and negative economic impacts
of global warming for the specific areas you have selected as the focus
of your NGO and assign a dollar figure to each impact based on the available
data you might be able to find (include references) or rough estimates
you might be able to make. What are the sources and levels of uncertainty
associated with the amounts you quoted? For the main remedial actions
you proposed in your writing #2, assess the potential evolution of their
cost as a function of time before action is taken and justify the basis
for your assessment (i.e., How will the cost of doing something about
global warming change as time passes before something is done? Identify
the best time to take action on global climate change and show how your
analysis of projected costs supports your position on this issue.)
•
Analysis
of economic impacts of global warming and possible emission limitation
actions (Pro Oil Lobby- 2 pages)
Describe how you would outline the positive economic impacts of global
warming for selected areas of the globe and assign a dollar figure to
each impact based on the available data you might be able to find (include
references) or rough estimates you might be able to make. What are the
sources and levels of uncertainty associated with the amounts you quoted?
For the main remedial actions you proposed in your writing #2, assess
the potential evolution of their cost as a function of time before action
is taken and justify the basis for your assessment (i.e., How will the
cost of limiting emissions with your suggested remedial actions change
as time passes before something is done? Identify the best time to take
action with regards to oil production and show how your analysis of
projected costs supports your position on this issue.)
•
Analysis
of economic impacts of global warming and possible emission limitation
actions (Media- 2 pages)
Describe how each group is looking at e economic ipact and try to explain
clearly the pros and cons using as much as possible quantitative figures
(dollar amounts).
For the main remedial actions you discussed in your writing #2, disucss
with all parties an dreport on their assessment of the potential evolution
of their cost as a function of time before action is taken and justify
the basis for their assessment (i.e., how will the cost of limiting
emissions with their suggested remedial actions change as time passes
before something is done) Discuss their point of view regarding the
best time to take action with regards to oil production and show how
their analysis of projected costs supports or not their position on
this issue.
July 24, 2007
WRITING
4
• Analysis of alternative and renewable energy (countries
- 2 pages)
Discuss the difference between an alternative and a renewable
energy resource. Which technologies are defined as alternative and which
are defined as renewable? Outline the available resources in your country
that would meet the requirements of specific technologies you have described.
What is the current generating capacity of these technologies and how
is this capacity forecasted to grow? What are the main barriers to implementing
these technologies in your country? What are the environmental costs
and benefits associated with each? Finally, develop an argument for
or against the proposed Clean Development Mechanism by describing the
mechanism and outlining the benefits or costs it would impose on your
economy. Propose a plan of action for implementing various technologies
that includes a timetable and associated generating capacities.
•
Analysis of alternative and renewable energy (NGO, Pro Oil Lobby and
Media - 2 pages)
Discuss the difference between an alternative and a renewable
energy resource. Which technologies are defined as alternative and which
are defined as renewable? What is the current generating capacity of
these technologies in various countries and how is this capacity forecasted
to grow? What are the main barriers to implementing these sources of
energy? What are the environmental costs and benefits associated with
each? Discuss which technologies should be promoted by the different
parties and why.
July 25, 2007
WRITING 5 (rubric5)
•
Draft Topics
(Topic - 1 page)
Describe the
topic you have selected and
provide a rationale for its selection. Why might the countries participating
in the summit be willing to come to an agreement on this topic? What
countries do you anticipate might might have some issues with your topic
and why? How can you address these issues while keeping the topic in
the protocol?
July 26, 2007
WRITING 6 (rubric6)
• Draft
Actions
(Topic - 1 page)
Provide an overview of
possible actions you propose and how they could be implemented. What
would be needed from different countries and/or organizations for your
actions to succeed?
July 31, 2007
WRITING 7 (rubric7)
• Draft Proposal Articles
(Topic - 1page)
Provide
a draft of the article you are proposing to include in the final agreement.
Use legal wording (see previous years' articles).
Aug 1, 2007
WRITING 7 (rubric7)
• Draft Proposal Articles
(Topic - 1page)
Provide
a draft of the article you are proposing to include in the final agreement.
Use legal wording (see previous years' articles).
Aug 2, 2007
WRITING 8 (rubric8)
• Final Draft Proposal Articles
(Topic - 1page)
Provide
a final draft of the article that will be included in the summit agreement,
including definitions that relevant to the article that will be included
at the begining of the final agreement. Use legal wording (see previous
years' articles).
Aug 3, 2007 at 5 pm
WRITING 9 (rubric9)
• Analysis of Articles (Individual - 2 page)
How did the class-room negotiations influence the way you shaped your article? What change or concession did you have to make in order to satisfy the needs of other countries? How did this compromise your article?