Introduction
For Post 72, Climate Scorecard Country Managers were asked to focus on the conflicts between climate mitigation and development policies and programs in their countries. In what ways do development objectives (i.e. the need for government to ensure the well-being of their citizens) limit policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? For example, the need to provide all citizens with access to energy, food, housing, transportation, and other basic needs requires a great deal of energy – often more than is available through a country’s supply of renewable resources.
Country Managers were asked to identify specific development issues that their countries face that make it hard to enact the climate mitigation policies and programs needed to comply with the Paris Agreement goals: reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and becoming net zero by 2050. What can countries do to strengthen climate policies and still address development needs? The table below summarizes these conflicts for each country. Complete Country Reports, with suggestions for how each country seeks to resolve the conflict, follow below.
Table: Country Strategies for Addressing Conflicts Between Economic Development and Climate Mitigation Needs
| Country | Strategy |
| Australia |
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| Brazil |
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| Canada |
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| China |
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| European Union |
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| France |
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| Germany |
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| India |
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| Indonesia |
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| Japan |
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| Mexico |
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| Nigeria |
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| Saudi Arabia |
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| South Africa |
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| Spain |
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| Turkey |
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| United Kingdom |
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| United States |
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Country Reports
The Conflict Between Australia’s Fossil Fuel Dependency and its Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Commitments
Like many countries, Australia is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and has many years of experience with the environmental, human, and economic consequences of these impacts. Despite this, Australia was ranked as the third largest fossil fuel exporter in 2019. Its fossil fuel exports in that year were nearly three-quarters the size…
Thermoelectric Plans in Brazil Help Meet Energy Needs but Raise Emissions
Thermal or thermal power plants generate energy based on the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, and natural gas, or processes involving radioactive materials. This energy generation model is mainly responsible for the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), in addition to being an expensive alternative that results in high costs on the energy…
Conflicts Between Climate Mitigation and Economy in Canada
Ecojustice (Canada’s largest environmental law charity) explains that choosing between a healthy environment and a strong economy is a flawed lens through which we’ve been conditioned to view the challenges Canada faces when it comes to industrial development, protecting the well-being of communities, and preserving our natural heritage. A healthy environment supports a sustainable economy…
Climate Change Mitigation Holds Potential to Transform China’s High-Energy Industry-Driven Economic Model
China’s comet-like ascent to global economic powerhouse status over the past 30 years is based on its ability to manufacture everything and anything at reasonable labor and energy costs. Much of the West’s Foreign Direct Investment was spent on building factories to produce textiles, shoes, and other consumer products in the early years, then cars,…
Does the EU’s New Food Security Initiative Take into Account Its Impact on CO2 Emissions?
In light of Russia’s war on Ukraine and its provocation of an increased need for comprehensive food security policies, the EU has prioritized ensuring both domestic and global food security. EU farmers and producers have been tasked with increasing agricultural production to meet global demands and with assisting in supplying crops that the war has…
The Conflicts Between Climate Mitigation and Development in France
Since the beginning of the climate debate in France, climate policy has been marked by a perceived tension between the goals of national interest and global solidarity. The belief persisted in France and many other countries that climate policy should not impair national economic competitiveness in the global economy. Therefore, The challenge for France was to not…
Germany Needs Tax Reforms to Achieve a Social-Ecological Transformation
Ideally, the policies directed to reduce a country’s emissions footprint and general development would go hand in hand with the social aspects of such transformation upfront, ensuring that the less capable not only also profit from the benefits. Still, they won’t be strongly affected by the related costs.In Germany, the Hans Böckler Foundation (Stiftung) has…
India Faces a Dilemma Between its Need for Development and Commitment to Reducing Carbon Emissions
India, with a population of 1.5 billion, is one of the largest carbon emitters. Its low and middle-income class is vulnerable to the climate crisis and needs development. The Indian federal and sub-regional governments have proactively mitigated the climate crisis through policies and mechanisms. Some of the government’s key mitigation policies include improving energy efficiency…
Constraints to the Use of Renewable Energy in Indonesia Hampers Efforts Towards Sustainable Development
Conflicts between development and climate mitigation arise in Indonesia, as in many other developing nations, due to the difficulties in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. Primarily, Indonesia has relied on fossil fuels, notably coal, to meet rising energy demands and drive economic growth. The energy industry will become a significant carbon emitter if the government…
Japan’s Economic Challenges Make It Reluctant to Commit to Needed Environmental Changes Fully
As Japan embarks on its journey to 2050, it faces a critical test in addressing the dual challenges of climate change and a rapidly transforming society. The nation, renowned for its technological expertise, now stands at a pivotal point, compelled to realign its strategies with the realities of an aging population and an increasingly warming…
Mexico’s Tightrope Walk: Bridging the Gaps Between Between Development and Climate Action
Mexico was one of the first countries to ratify the Paris Agreement in 2016, demonstrating its commitment to combating climate change. Mexico depends on fossil fuels for its energy matrix, and the country has not significantly updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) since 2015. Mexico has good renewable resources; However, the current Mexican government has…
Examples of the Conflict from the Urban Development, Agriculture, and Transportation Sectors in Nigeria
In Nigeria, pursuing developmental objectives to ensure citizens’ well-being poses significant challenges to practical climate mitigation efforts. Several obstacles impede the implementation of policies essential to reaching the Paris Agreement objectives, which involve cutting emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.One significant challenge arises in energy access and poverty alleviation, particularly…
Saudi Arabia: Doing More to Implement Its Vision 2030 Program will help Bridge the Gap Between Development and Climate Mitigation Programs
Saudi Arabia announced more than six years ago Vision 2030, which is a set of megaprojects and strategic investments that seek to diversify the economy, increase the state’s non-oil revenue, and reduce oil-dependent economic activity. However, political and socioeconomic obstacles have slowed the country’s pace of energy transition towards more sustainable alternatives. The state continues to…
Demands to Address Post-Apartheid Unemployment, Poverty, and Low Growth Limit South African Government’s Efforts to Address Climate Change
South Africa has been experiencing harsh and extreme climate change impacts. These impacts significantly affect agriculture, human health, and water availability. Climate change has altered seasons in Southern Africa, including South Africa. South Africa is now experiencing heavier rains in most parts of the country. However, the western region is increasingly getting dry. These droughts…
Spain’s Telecommuting and Early Retirement Trends Benefit Climate Change Mitigation
Historically, CO2 emissions have been strongly correlated with economic development. The richer we are, the more CO2 we emit. But this relationship no longer necessarily holds at higher incomes. Many countries are starting to achieve economic growth while reducing emissions. They are decoupling the two. It’s only over the last 20 years that this decoupling…
Turkey’s Increased Population and Construction have Favored Economic Growth Over Climate Mitigation Policies
The economy in Turkey has been on a growth trend for many years despite the surging inflation since 2022. The growth has been supported by mainly increased population and construction. The continuing increase in the population pushes the demand for energy up with many other needs. As a country experiencing rapid economic and industrial growth…
The UK Faces Multiple Challenges in Swiftly Decarbonizing its Economy While Meeting its Population’s Essential Needs
The United Kingdom confronts a formidable challenge in swiftly decarbonizing its economy while simultaneously addressing essential needs such as housing, transportation, food, and energy access to enhance citizens’ well-being. The pursuit of multiple development priorities has impeded the implementation of climate policies necessary to align with the Paris Agreement goals, aiming to reduce emissions by…
US Congress Needs to Address Climate Change as an Overall Issue Affecting Different Economic Sectors
In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed in Congress through President Joe Biden’s push for climate legislation. Hailed as a victory for some environmentalists, the Act has garnered criticism from many. Originally proposed in the form of the Build Back Better Plan, the measure did not pass and was rewritten as the IRA. The…