#71: NEA YES Leaders Programme & CASA - Getting to Zero Workshops (Jun/Jul 2024)

NEA YES Leaders Programme (18 June)

Climate Action SG Alliance (CASA) Workshop (6 July)

This marks our first public workshop for Getting to Zero! Always lots to learn with Melissa around, being able to draw on her expertise in issues related to climate reporting and international environmental law.

Some takeaways from the post-game discussion:

• Technological lock-in occurs when society becomes dependent on a particular technology or energy system that is difficult to change, even if better alternatives exist. This happens because of investments in infrastructure, established habits, regulatory frameworks, and economic interests. For example, the widespread use of fossil fuels like coal creates a carbon lock-in, making it challenging to switch to renewable energy sources due to the existing infrastructure and industries built around these fossil fuels. Tl;dr: it is like getting stuck in a situation where changing course is hard and costly, even if the current path is not the best for the environment or long-term sustainability.
  

• Resource curse is a paradox where countries rich in natural resources, like oil, gas, or minerals, often experience less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources. Using Indonesia as a case study:

Abundant Resources

• Indonesia has large reserves of coal, making it one of the top coal producers in the world.

Economic Dependence

• Given how valuable coal is , Indonesia relies heavily on coal mining and exports to generate income.
  

• This heavy focus on coal can lead to neglect of other important sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, and technology. The economy becomes less diverse and more vulnerable to fluctuations in coal prices.
  

Economic Implications

• When coal prices fall, the economy can suffer, leading to job losses and reduced government revenue. This volatility makes it hard to plan for long-term development.

• Furthermore, the wealth from coal can lead to large amounts of money flowing into the government. However, without strong institutions, this can result in corruption, mismanagement, and inefficient use of funds.

Social and Environmental Implications

• Coal mining can cause significant environmental damage, such as deforestation and pollution, and lead to social issues like displacement of communities and poor working conditions.

Article: Indonesia terminates agreement with Norway on $1b REDD+ scheme

Link to Article: Mongabay

• Indonesia has terminated a long-standing agreement with Norway, in which the latter agreed to pay US$1 billion if the forest-rich tropical country is able to slow its emissions from deforestation.

• The Indonesian government says the decision is made after thorough consultations and cites lack of progress in the payment by Norway as one of the reasons for the termination.

• The Indonesian government says it remains committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions despite ending the agreement.

• The Norwegian government says the two governments had been engaged in discussions on a legal agreement for the transfer of the payment, and the discussions were still ongoing and progressing well up until the announcement.

• Rebound effect means that when something becomes more energy-efficient and cheaper to use, people might end up using it more, which can reduce or even cancel out the energy savings.

  • For example:

1. Energy Efficiency Improvement: Imagine a new, energy-efficient car that uses less fuel.

2. Initial Savings: Since the car uses less fuel, it costs less to drive.

3. Increased Usage: Since driving is cheaper, people might drive their car more often or take longer trips.

4. Overall Energy Use: As a result, the total fuel used might not decrease as much as expected and could even increase.

• Carbon tax alone has not made a dent on emissions reduction (thought it has raised revenue), and needs to be complemented with renewable energy usage.