PSCI 3606 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Paris Agreement, Arctic Cooperation And Politics, Arctic Council
11 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Climate Change Diplomacy
• In 2002, the Chrétien government ratified the Kyoto Protocol, but did not substantially
implement the target.
• The Harper government did not immediately pull Canada out in 2006, but did become the
only country to withdraw in 2011.
• In 2009, Canada signed the non-binding Copenhagen Accord and committed to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions to 17% below 2005 but the 2014 report by Environment
commissioner Julie Gelfand concluded that Canada would badly miss the Copenhagen
targets.
• Under Trudeau, Canada has signed on to the Paris Climate Accord and has expressed a
renewed commitment to fighting climate change
• Do you agree with Smith’s assessment that Canada’s approach to climate change
diplomacy is unwilling internationalism? Is it still?
Arctic sovereignty/ security
• Key issue regarding Canadian Arctic sovereignty and security revolved around defining
the boundaries of the Canadian Arctic within the confined of the United Nations
conventions on the law of the sea (1982/ 1996) which defined four key zones
• As well, Canada defined the Northwest passage as territorial water while the US
considers it as an international problem
• Three key changes in the arctic are driving the debate over security:
- Climate change: warming at the arctic has accelerated which have both economic and
environmental impact.
- Resource development: estimated to contain approximately 25% of the world’s
remaining oil and gad deposits.
- Geopolitical changes: overlapping claim by four- six states.
Shifts to Canadian Arctic Policy
• Under Martin, Arctic policy was limited to diplomatic forums
• With Harper, a more multifaceted approach was adopted that continued diplomacy in the
arctic council and the UNCLOS while also focusing on security by enhancing
enforcements and surveillance.
• In Dec 2016, Trudeau announced the development of a new “arctic policy framework”
(expected Jan 2018) that would emphasize:
- Conserving Arctic biodiversity
- Building a sustainable Arctic economy.
- Incorporating indigenous science and traditional knowledge.
- Supporting strong Arctic communities
- security: an attempt to redefine the focus of security away from an exclusive focus on
states and towards the security concerns of individuals.
• It was pursued by Canada through the development of the Ottawa Treaty to Ban landmine
in 1997 and the November 20th, 2017
Canada and Global Economic Governance
Conceptual tools and techniques
• Liberal internationalism: international institutions act to mediate between states by acting
to promote and to reinforce cooperation.
- States like Canada, act to shape those institutions and ensure that they promote a
global order that reflect our interests and values.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
In 2002, the chr tien government ratified the kyoto protocol, but did not substantially implement the target: the harper government did not immediately pull canada out in 2006, but did become the only country to withdraw in 2011. Climate change: warming at the arctic has accelerated which have both economic and environmental impact. Resource development: estimated to contain approximately 25% of the world"s remaining oil and gad deposits. Geopolitical changes: overlapping claim by four- six states. In dec 2016, trudeau announced the development of a new arctic policy framework (expected jan 2018) that would emphasize: Incorporating indigenous science and traditional knowledge. security: an attempt to redefine the focus of security away from an exclusive focus on states and towards the security concerns of individuals. It was pursued by canada through the development of the ottawa treaty to ban landmine in 1997 and the november 20th, 2017.
