Download Venezuela-Climate Change

Venezuela: The Role of Climate Change
Pearson Croney-Clark, Rachael Follmer, Benedikt Nabben, Arthur Cios
Climate Change: A Political Introduction
Professor François Gemenne
Croney-Clark, Follmer, Nabben, Cios
As one of the world’s greatest producers of oil, the issue of climate change presents a
paradox for Venezuela. Oil is critical to the present-day economic health of the country, but
detrimental to its long-term sustainability. In his 2009 address at the Climate Change Conference
in Copenhagen, recently deceased president Hugo Chavez explained, "Climate change is
undoubtedly the most devastating environmental problem of this century...Don’t change the
climate, change the system.”1 Though Venezuelan environmental policy has been the source of
much controversy, the long-lasting and irreversible impacts of climate change are a threat for
Venezuela. The State understands that action needs to be taken to prevent further destruction,
and it is committed to changing current behavior to be more environmentally sustainable.
As one of seventeen mega-diverse countries on earth, Venezuela is a habitat for more than
150,000 plant and animal species.2 Climate change is a direct threat for this unique tropical
wilderness ecosystem and the issue of energy directly intersects with the sustainability of
Venezuela’s wildlife. The Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries maintains that the
exportation of oil from the country’s reserves generates 95% of Venezuela’s income and in order
to obtain this oil, activities deemed harmful to the environment do continuously occur. However,
Venezuela is willing to counteract and limit its oil activities through other solutions. Standing as
a leader in the usage of renewable energy in South America, former President Chavez intended
for Venezuela to serve as a role model to the larger capitalist countries ignoring the presence of
climate change. As a result, Venezuela currently generates more than 70 percent of its energy by
hydropower.3 There are more than 1,000 rivers in the country that hold the potential to be used
for energy production in the future, but droughts such as the devastating shortage in 2009
showcase the impacts of climate change already preventing this form of energy production.4 It
1
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United States, "Venezuela and Climate
Change: Change the System, Not the Climate.” Last modified 10 2010. http://venezuelaus.org/live/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/10-08-2010-Venezuela-and-Climate-Change.pdf.
2
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , "Venezuela Home to 150,000 Species."
Last modified 04 2010. http://venezuela-us.org/2010/04/14/venezuela-home-to-150000-species/.
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[3] Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , "Venezue Renovates Hydroelectric
Plant." Last modified 08 2012. http://venezuela-us.org/2012/11/08/venezuela-renovateshydroelectric-plant.
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[4] Bloomberg, "Chavez Calls for Wind, Nuclear Energy to Boost Electric Grid." Last modified
02 2010. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aU3nF7caRgBM.
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Croney-Clark, Follmer, Nabben, Cios
has become extremely evident to Venezuela that environmental policy is the only way to protect
the country from itself, or the ability to exploit its natural resources for economic gain.
Venezuela recognizes the global scientific consensus that greenhouse gas emissions are the
main cause of climate change. However, consistent with the beliefs of former president Hugo
Chavez, Venezuela maintains that the primary producers of these emissions are developed
countries. Venezuela is only responsible for the production of 0.48 percent of the global total of
greenhouse gas emissions.5 States accountable for the majority of emissions are characterized by
societies that are consumerist, industrial and individualistic, and they cease to recognize the
severity of the issue of climate change. Venezuela, together with partners from the Bolivarian
Alliance of Our America (Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua etc.), wishes to change the system into a
socially just and ecologically sustainable world.
Venezuela has signed and ratified more than 50 international conventions concerning issues
of environmental protection, climate change and sustainable development.6 Since 1994,
Venezuela has been an active member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) and, in contrast to the countries primarily responsible for global greenhouse
gas emissions, particularly the United States of America, Venezuela has signed and ratified the
Kyoto Protocol.7 Venezuela supports the objectives of these conventions and further wishes to
impress the importance of the concept of "common but differentiated responsibilities." In more
specific terms, Venezuela supports the definition of binding commitments for capitalist countries
to reduce the concentrations of greenhouse gases back to 300 ppm.8
In particular regard to domestic policy, Venezuela is working to cease climate change
through large investments and ambitious goals. In 2006, Venezuela launched the "Tree Mission"
to limit deforestation in the region. Utilizing 30 tons of seeds, the goal is to grow 100 million
IPS News, "Nanotechnology Could Lighten Venezuela’s Oil Footprint." Last modified 11 2012.
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/11/nanotechnology-could-lighten-venezuelas-oil-footprint/.
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SF Bay View, "Venezuela and climate change: Change the system, not the climate." Last
modified 10 2008. http://sfbayview.com/2010/venezuela-and-climate-change-change-thesystem-not-the-climate.
7 UNFCCC, "Status of Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol."
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/status_of_ratification/items/2613.php.
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[8] SF Bay View, "Venezuela and climate change: Change the system, not the climate."
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Croney-Clark, Follmer, Nabben, Cios
plants and reforest 150,000 hectares of land in five years.9 Venezuela recognizes that the forest
in Venezuela is not only an important and unique habitat, it is crucial to deterring climate change.
The reforestation efforts will help to absorb huge amounts of greenhouse gases and counteract
the oil activities engaged in environmentally unfriendly ways in the past. In addition, Venezuela
continues to showcase its dedication to impending climate change through the "Energy Efficient
Lighting Program." Venezuela has changed over 100 million incandescent light bulbs to
fluorescent alternatives, reducing electricity usage astronomically. In 2013, this program was
enlarged to replace and re-distribute more than 625,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs in 21
United States cities.10 The important part of this project is that CITGO Petroleum, an oil refinery
owned by the Venezuelan government, is working to help mitigate climate change between their
own country as well as the United States of America.11 Venezuela has also created a number of
goals to “adapt to and mitigate climate change,” aligned with significant international guidelines.
These include: use of gas alternatives for vehicles and domestic use, mass transit projects (such
as a national system of railways and trains), and promotion of food sovereignty as well as
surveillance and environmental control, among other things.12 Venezuela is dedicated to enacting
social and political change in order to help the world become environmentally friendly and
sustainable in the long run.
9
Venezuela Analysis, "Misión Arbol: Reforesting Venezuela." Last modified 06 2006.
http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/1801.
10
[10] Venezuela Analysis, "CITGO-Venezuela to Donate 600,000 Energy Saving Bulbs to
Low-Income U.S. Families." Last modified 09 2013. http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/9992.
11
[11] Ibid.
12
[12] Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United States, "VENEZUELA
AND CLIMATE CHANGE: CHANGE THE SYSTEM, NOT THE CLIMATE."
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Croney-Clark, Follmer, Nabben, Cios
Bibliography
Bloomberg, "Chavez Calls for Wind, Nuclear Energy to Boost Electric Grid." Last modified 02
2010. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aU3nF7caRgBM.
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United States, "Venezuela and Climate
Change: Change the System, Not the Climate.” Last modified 10 2010. http://venezuelaus.org/live/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/10-08-2010-Venezuela-and-Climate-Change.pdf.
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, "Venezuela Home to 150,000 Species." Last
modified 04 2010. http://venezuela-us.org/2010/04/14/venezuela-home-to-150000-species/.
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , "Venezuela Renovates Hydroelectric Plant."
Last modified 08 2012. http://venezuela-us.org/2012/11/08/venezuela-renovates-hydroelectricplant.
IPS News, "Nanotechnology Could Lighten Venezuela’s Oil Footprint." Last modified 11 2012.
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/11/nanotechnology-could-lighten-venezuelas-oil-footprint/.
SF Bay View, "Venezuela and climate change: Change the system, not the climate." Last
modified 10 2008. http://sfbayview.com/2010/venezuela-and-climate-change-change-thesystem-not-the-climate.
UNFCCC, "Status of Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol."
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/status_of_ratification/items/2613.php.
Venezuela Analysis, "Misión Arbol: Reforesting Venezuela." Last modified 06 2006.
http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/1801.
Venezuela Analysis, "CITGO-Venezuela to Donate 600,000 Energy Saving Bulbs to LowIncome U.S. Families." Last modified 09 2013. http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/9992.
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