INDIVIDUAL DAILY WRITING First Week Is there enough scientific evidence of causes and impacts to justify need to control greenhouse gas emissions? o Day 1: Analysis of a Scientific Paper from the Point of View of a Policy Maker Describe the key points relevant to a policy maker and explain why these are relevant. Analyze page 1 to 5 (left column only) of the IPCC Summary for Policy Makers summary.policy.science.pdf. While you read the statements regarding temperature increase, put yourselves in the shoes of a policy maker and decide how this would be relevant to you. For this exercise, assume that the increase is mostly due to anthropogenic effects. Tomorrow and the following day, we will investigate the extent of the validity of this assumption. o Day 2: Analysis of Results Presented on Figure 4 of the IPCC Summary for Policy Makers summary.policy.science.pdf Describe the typical questions that such results can raise. o Day 3: Analysis of Data for Different Interpretations Using figure 3 of the IPCC Summary for Policy Makers summary.policy.science.pdf , describe how the data can be interpreted in different ways for different purposes. Give 2 examples. o Day 4: Analysis of Sources and Methodology From a policy maker's point of view, use the figure: temp.with.time.diff.inst.pdf to describe how sources of data and methodologies used to combine or analyze data sets may raise questions and impact the interpretation. Second Week Comparison of the Kyoto Protocol to the "Alternative" Scenario o Day 5: Kyoto: Issues to be discussed From the perspective of your country, how would the idea of a "Homogenized Carbon Tax" like the one described in class this morning by Professor Kolstad work ? o Day 6: Alternative Scenario Summarize the main points of the alternative scenario. o Day 7: No individual writing required o Day 8: Proposal Preparation 1 page developing one point of a proposal to be used as a building block for the group writing. GROUP WRITING ASSIGNMENTS Country Representatives o First Week - A scientific assessment white paper (3-5 pages) in support of a congressional testimony on the scientific evidence of cause and impacts to justify the need to control greenhouse gases emission. The goal is to convince law makers of you country that it is in the best interest of your country to negotiate a treaty. o Second Week - Collaborate with your focus groups, write 3-5 (or more) pages structured as a draft proposal to be refined before the Summit (Monday) and finalized at the Summit. The appendix should contain technical details and justifications. o Third Week - A white paper (3-5 pages) summarizing the protocol for reducing greenhouse gas emissions negotiated during the summit and discussing the social and economic impacts this plan has on your country and what your country would require from the international community to ratify this protocol. You must defend the protocol you have negotiated and discuss the compromises you had to make. This role requires some research on the particular country chosen and its position and particular circumstances with regards to the environment. Media Representatives The student journalists in this summit are responsible for producing several papers: o First Week - A news report (3-5 pages) for the International Press that provides background information and justifiation for the need to control greenhouse emission. o Second Week - A news report (3-5 pages) for the International Press on a comparative analysis of the two emission control scenarios for the various groups represented at the summit. Include alliances among countries that would make sense for each of the scenarios. o Third Week - A news report (3-5 pages) for the International Press that describes and analyzes the entire process (e.g., political, scientific, economic..) of the summit and the resulting negotiated protocol. The student journalists are also responsible for the preparation of a MEDIA KIT to be distributed to the participants and the audience the evening before the summit. Finally, they will serve as moderators of negotiation sessions at the summit. NGO Representatives The students NGO representatives in this summit are responsible for producing several papers: o First Week - A paper (3-5 pages) providing a scientific assessment for the general public in the form of a newsletter about the scientific evidence of global warming, the key impacts for the global community and the need to control emissions. o Second Week - Collaborate with your focus groups, write 3-5 (or more) pages structured as a draft proposal to be refined before the Summit (Monday) and finalized at the Summit. The appendix should contain technical details and justifications. o Third Week - A paper (3-5 pages) summarizing the protocol for reducing greenhouse gas emissions negotiated during the summit, analyzing the issues of concern that are addressed by the protocol, those that will continue to need attention and those are lost, at least for the time being. The student NGO representatives are responsible for preparation of the first two debates and their running, acting as moderators and making brief presentations at the beginning of the debates to set the tone and provide the direction. Finally, they will serve as moderators of negotiation sessions at the summit.