Consequences of integration
Consequences of integration
Realising that from the perspective of governance mechanisms to combat climate change integration is never sufficient raises the question of the consequence of Realising that from the perspective of governance mechanisms to combat climate change integration is never sufficient raises the question of the consequence of
Analysing the consequence of the increasing integration in society can
be done by referring to the phenomenon of acceleration, which reflects the continuous progress in society during its further historical development (Walter ). Acceleration – achieving more in less time – has led to an increasing utilisation of energy. Political agencies are well aware of this, as the following quotation from the Commission of the European Communities shows:
Global demand for energy is increasing. World energy demand – and emissions – is expected to rise by some % by . Global oil consumption has increased by % since 4, and global oil demand is projected to grow by .% per year. (Commission of the European Communities , )
Not surprisingly, but in line with the rationale of governance for climate change, further enhancement of this situation is underway. Thus, accelerating measures are widely proposed. For example, the Development of an Action Plan on Climate Change in the Barents Region, which was published by the International Barents Secretariat, and which has been developed as a follow-up to the declaration of the th Meeting of the Ministers of Environment of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council in Tromsø, Norway, in , suggests “expedient implementation of energy efficiency measures, incl. accelerated development of alternative sources of energy and cleaner production strategies” (Lindgren , ).
This is consistent with other policies for combating climate change, including the energy policy. Thus, the Commission of the European Communities is eager to propose to make “more from less: leading on energy efficiency”. As a consequence, it is promised that “an effective energy efficiency policy does not mean sacrificing comfort or convenience. Nor does it mean reducing competitiveness. In fact an effective policy in this area means the opposite; making cost-effective investments in order to reduce the waste of energy, thereby increasing standards of living and saving money, and using price signals, that would lead to more responsible, economical and rational use of energy. Market-based instruments, including the Community energy tax framework, can be a very efficient tool in this respect”
(Commission of the European Communities , ). These policies imply that an acceleration of energy use can be mitigated by an increase in energy efficiency. Once more, it is a good example of why the discourse on climate change, its causes and impacts exhibits a high degree of complexity.
Furthermore, the explorations in the section on the climate regime suggest that the regime can be understood as a structural coupling of observer and observed or social and physical systems. Thus, the evolving regime is a model of social-physical change. This means that any consequence of climate change, its impact on a variety of physical systems, is a correspondent to social change. This must be perceived in the sense that global climate change, as well as local and regional impacts, are not independent of social change. In the following quotations, a number of examples from the Arctic indicate accelerating changes as corresponding events of accelerating measures in society:
The loss of glacial mass through melting is very likely to accelerate throughout the Arctic, with the Greenland Ice Sheet also starting to melt. These changes will tend to increase the rate of sea-level rise. (Arctic Climate Impact Assessment 5, ; emphasis added here and in the following quotations)
Ongoing or accelerated coastal-erosion trends are likely to lead to further relocations of coastal communities in the Arctic. (Arctic Climate Impact Assessment 5, )
Increased freshwater input into the coastal zone is likely to accelerate the degradation of coastal permafrost. (Arctic Climate Impact Assessment 5, )
Finally, the following quotations present some examples of ‘feedback’ effects on Northern cultural aspects:
Hunter mobility and safety and the ability to move with changing distribution of resources, particularly on sea ice, are likely to decrease, leading to less hunting success. Similarly, access to caribou by hunters following changed snow and river-ice conditions is likely to become more difficult. Harvesting the threatened remaining populations of some marine Hunter mobility and safety and the ability to move with changing distribution of resources, particularly on sea ice, are likely to decrease, leading to less hunting success. Similarly, access to caribou by hunters following changed snow and river-ice conditions is likely to become more difficult. Harvesting the threatened remaining populations of some marine
Changes in diet, nutritional health, and exposure to air-, water-, and food- borne contaminants are also likely. Adjustments in the balance between the ‘two economies’ of rural areas (traditional and wage) will be accelerated by climate change. This suite of changes will be complex and largely indirect because of the mediating influences of market trends, the regulatory environment, and the pace and direction of rural development. (Arctic Climate Impact Assessment 5, )
Thus, as a final point, it has become clear that governance efforts to combat climate change follow the rationale of all governance efforts and reflect the recurring process of responding to increasing complexity. This conforms to the ideas of Heylighen ( ), who confirms the accelerating effect of sustaining governance structures over time.
The consequences of this phenomenon for the North have additionally been illuminated by Walter ( and ), in which the impacts of acceleration are emphasised, including, for example, the need for shorter innovation cycles in the Nordic and Northwest Russian forestry industry and continuing efficient investments to create a structure for sustainable development.