The goals of the writing assignments are to help you:

1) rationalize the participation of your country or group (NGO, media) in the protocol and,
2) organize and articulate your arguments for the protocol negotiations.

Writing assignments are done in teams (except for the last one). The first 4 writings are done with your country or group (NGO, media) team. The second set of writings is your topic team. Indicated in parenthesis is which team is to write the paper and the aproximate length of the paper. Each country or group paper should contain supporting information and references, if appropriate. Write you paper from the point of view of your role in this class (e.g., a policy maker if you are a minister, an NGO representation or a journalist).

A set of rubrics has been prepared to help you prepare and self-assess your writing assignments . There is a general writing rubric to provide you with some guidelines for all your writings and a specific rubric for each writing assignment.

Due dates are indicated on the daily program in the writing column.

Aug 2, 2005

WRITING IN PREPARATION FOR DISCUSSION

• Tragedy of the commons (1-2 pages)
Describe the concept of the tragedy of the commons. What are the logic and the universal forces that drive the tragedy of the commons? How can the tragedy of the commons apply to the problem of Global Warming? What are possible strategies to address the Global Warming tragedy of the commons?

Aug 3, 2005

WRITING 1 (rubric1)

• Analysis of a Scientific Paper from the Point of View of a Policy Maker (countries - 2 pages)
Describe the key points relevant to a policy maker and explain why these are relevant.
Analyze page 1 to 5 (left column only on page 5) 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. Analyze each of the key points of this document and describe in your policy maker words those points that are relevant to your country. List the scientific questions that you would need to have answered by your country's scientists in order to proceed with an emission limit policy for your country in order to contribute to addressing the observed changes.

•Analysis of a Scientific Paper from a Policy Point of View (NGO)
Describe the key points relevant to an NGO and explain why these are relevant.
Analyze page 1 to 5 (left column only on page 5) 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 an NGO representative. Analyze each of the key points of this document and describe in your own words those points that are relevant to your organization. List the scientific questions that you would need to have answered by the international scientific community in order to (better) support an international emission limit policy that would contribute to addressing the observed changes.

•Analysis of a Scientific Paper from a Policy Point of View (Pro-Oil Lobby)
Describe the key points relevant to an NGO and explain why these are relevant.
Analyze page 1 to 5 (left column only on page 5) 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 an oil enthusiast whose main goal is to slow down any international emission limit policy. Analyze each of the key points of this document and describe in your own words those points that are relevant to your organization. List the scientific questions that you would need to have answered by the international scientific community in order to support an international emission limit policy that would contribute to addressing the observed changes.

Aug 4, 2005

WRITING 2 (rubric2)

• Analysis of scientific basis for GHG emissions limitations (countries - 2 pages)
Describe the scientific evidence of impacts of global warming on your country. What is the confidence level for that evidence? Do you believe that the scientific evidence is strong enough to take some remedial actions that may have economic consequences? Provide solid examples of both emission limitations and remedial actions that could be taken at this time.

• Analysis of scientific basis for GHG emissions limitations (NGO - 2 pages)
Describe how you would present the scientific evidence of impacts of global warming on specific areas you have selected as the focus of your NGO. What is the confidence level for that evidence? Do you believe that the scientific evidence is strong enough for the world to take some actions that may have economic consequences? Provide solid examples of what (if any) action should be taken at this time.

Aug 9, 2005

WRITING 3 (rubric3)

• Analysis of economic impacts of global warming and possible remedial actions (countries - 2 pages)
Outline the positive and negative economic impacts of global warming for your country and assign a dollar figure to each impact based on the available data you might be able to find (include references) or rough estimates you might be able to make. What are the sources and levels of uncertainty associated with the amounts you quoted? For the main remedial actions you proposed in your writing #2, assess the potential evolution of their cost as a function of time before action is taken and justify the basis for your assessment (i.e., How will the cost of doing something about global warming change as time passes before something is done? Identify the best time to take action on global climate change and show how your analysis of projected costs supports your position on this issue.)

• Analysis of economic impacts of global warming and possible remedial actions (NGO - 2 pages)
Describe how you would outline the positive and negative economic impacts of global warming for the specific areas you have selected as the focus of your NGO and assign a dollar figure to each impact based on the available data you might be able to find (include references) or rough estimates you might be able to make. What are the sources and levels of uncertainty associated with the amounts you quoted? For the main remedial actions you proposed in your writing #2, assess the potential evolution of their cost as a function of time before action is taken and justify the basis for your assessment (i.e., How will the cost of doing something about global warming change as time passes before something is done? Identify the best time to take action on global climate change and show how your analysis of projected costs supports your position on this issue.)

• Analysis of economic impacts of global warming and possible emission limitation actions (Pro Oil Lobby- 2 pages)
Describe how you would outline the positive economic impacts of global warming for selected areas of the globe and assign a dollar figure to each impact based on the available data you might be able to find (include references) or rough estimates you might be able to make. What are the sources and levels of uncertainty associated with the amounts you quoted?
For the main remedial actions you proposed in your writing #2, assess the potential evolution of their cost as a function of time before action is taken and justify the basis for your assessment (i.e., How will the cost of limiting emissions with your suggested remedial actions change as time passes before something is done? Identify the best time to take action with regards to oil production and show how your analysis of projected costs supports your position on this issue.)

Aug 10, 2005

WRITING 4
• Analysis of alternative and renewable energy (countries - 2 pages)
Discuss the difference between an alternative and a renewable energy resource. Which technologies are defined as alternative and which are defined as renewable? Outline the available resources in your country that would meet the requirements of specific technologies you have described. What is the current generating capacity of these technologies and how is this capacity forecasted to grow? What are the main barriers to implementing these technologies in your country? What are the environmental costs and benefits associated with each? Finally, develop an argument for or against the proposed Clean Development Mechanism by describing the mechanism and outlining the benefits or costs it would impose on your economy. Propose a plan of action for implementing various technologies that includes a timetable and associated generating capacities.

• Analysis of alternative and renewable energy (NGO and Pro Oil Lobby- 2 pages)
Discuss the difference between an alternative and a renewable energy resource. Which technologies are defined as alternative and which are defined as renewable? What is the current generating capacity of these technologies in various countries and how is this capacity forecasted to grow? What are the main barriers to implementing these sources of energy? What are the environmental costs and benefits associated with each? Discuss which technologies should be promoted by the different parties and why.

Aug 11, 2005

WRITING 5 (rubric5)

• Draft Topics (Topic - 1 page)
Describe the topic you have selected and provide a rationale for its selection. Why might the countries participating in the summit be willing to come to an agreement on this topic? What countries do you anticipate might might have some issues with your topic and why? How can you address these issues while keeping the topic in the protocol?

Aug 15, 2005

WRITING 6 (rubric6)

• Draft Actions (Topic - 1 page)
Provide an overview of possible actions you propose and how they could be implemented. What would be needed from different countries and/or organizations for your actions to succeed?

Aug 17, 2005

WRITING 7 (rubric7)

• Draft Proposal Articles (Topic - 1page)
Provide a draft of the article you are proposing to include in the final agreement. Use legal wording (see previous years' articles).

Aug 18, 2005

WRITING 8 (rubric8)

• Final Draft Proposal Articles (Topic - 1page)
Provide a final draft of the article that will be included in the summit agreement, including definitions that relevant to the article that will be included at the begining of the final agreement. Use legal wording (see previous years' articles).

Aug 19, 2005

WRITING 9 (rubric9)

• Analysis of Articles (Individual - 2 page)
How did the class-room negotiations influence the way you shaped your article? What change or concession did you have to make in order to satisfy the needs of other countries? How did this compromise your article?