The Aeternus Climate Summit of 2023 (IC) (TWI Only)

[Aeteros]

The Summit room is full of chattering delegates, after a few minutes of initial meeting and greeting the Aeterosan Representative stands and takes the podium, clearing his throat before beginning to speak.

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"First, I want to take a moment to thank the delegates who have traveled from all across The Western Isles to attend this conference, I would also like to thank the Uprean delegate, without their assistance this bill would not exist. Whether the policies we as a nation hope to enact are brought into law today or not, a productive discussion resulting in meaningful change is The United Commonwealths greatest hope"

"Climate change is quite possibly the greatest existential threat facing developed and developing nations alike in this day and age. Rising sea levels and a greater danger from tropical storms pose an especially great threat to our island filled region and its southern more tropical nations. Most citizens live within a few miles of a coastline, this increase in sea levels and tropical storms therefore poses a direct threat to many of our citizens, meaning combating climate change is in the direct interests of our people.

Much of previous climate legislation has been targeted at reducing emissions and pushing towards a carbon neutral economy. While this is certainly not a negative thing, I liken it to taking your foot off the gas but not pressing the breaks while careening towards a cliff. A carbon neutral economy is only the first step. To truly solve this crisis in any meaningful way it is a necessity for our nations to institute measures to create carbon negative economies. The amount of C02 and other greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere is already enough to do major long-term damage if left unbothered for the time it would take for them to leave the atmosphere naturally.
To properly attack the issue of climate, change The United Commonwealth of Aeteros proposes a two pronged legislative package to be adopted by all attending signatory nations. One of the two prongs focuses on nations with an already existing network of sustainable energy producers, the second prong focuses on those without a major amount of sustainable energy"

"I will now leave the floor open for debate, the legislation is on your desks"

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Prong one: Existing substantial sustainable energy infrastructure
Defines prong one nations as those with less than half of their power coming from nonrenewable sources or nations with significant near future plans for the implementation of renewable energy sources that would put them past that mark.
--Prong one nations are also considered to be above at least a 50 on the Environmental Performance Index henceforth known as an EPI.
EPI: https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2022/component/epi

Allocating at least 10% of a signatory nations land to hosting “climate capture” technology, whether it is through artificial means or mass replanting’s of naturally carbon catching fauna depending on geography and natural resources of the nation. At least half of this 10% would need to be natural i.e., forests or grasslands.
--The intention of this site is to serve as a first step into introducing widespread carbon capture practices and potential future meetings of this summit could expand upon this.

Allocating an additional at least 18% of their GDP to the furthering of sustainable energy and increasingly moving their nations onto purely sustainable sources of power.
--This conference would come together annually for proposals of individual financial plans to be presented before the assembled body for approval. Incentives for taking part would include discounts on bulk purchases of renewable energy production equipment and the materials to make such equipment.
--This allocation could be used both in the research and implementation of this

Pledging to present a plan for the individual nation to move to a carbon neutral or carbon negative economy within the next 20 years to be approved on by the rest of the assembled nations.
--The assembled nations would create a general control plan to compare these submissions against.

Pledging to assist signatory nations covered in prong two with the development of more sustainable sources of energy. The amount and nature of the assistance would be determined by the assembled body of nations. The ultimate goal of which is to assist the transition of Prong Two nations in becoming Prong One nations.

Prong Two: Little or no existing sustainable energy infrastructure
Defines Prong Two nations as those with more than half of their power coming from nonrenewable sources
--Prong two nations are also considered those with an EPI of below 50

Allocating at least 15% of their GDP to the development of sustainable energy sources

Allocating at least 5% of their nations land to the hosting of climate capture technology, or natural replanting of forests and grasslands.

Pledging to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and other non-sustainable power sources with the exception of nuclear which would remain in place. This would be accomplished with each of the Prong Two nations presenting individual plans on the path of fossil fuel use reduction and a greater implementation of sustainable energy.

Pledging to not increase their fossil fuel production, no new oil refineries or new coal power plants or other nonrenewable energy sources. This would coincide with the implementation of renewable energy sources so as to counteract any potential damage to a nations power infrastructure.

[Great Altera]

Margaret Kahn was nervous as she entered the conference hall of the Aeternus Climate Summit. She was the Alteran Secretary for Rural and Environmental Affairs, and she had the honour to be invited to discuss and debate with representatives from other countries about the global action plan to combat climate change. The plan proposed by the Aeternus Council was ambitious and radical: it required all countries to spend 18% of their national GDP on the development of renewable energy sources and to dedicate at least 10% of a nation's land to carbon capture. In an age of rising global temperatures, radically shift climates and unpredictable weather - Margaret, like her fellow delegates in the room, knew that change had to take place. How that change would take shape, and whether any deadlines would be held, was another matter entirely. All she could do was represent her government and the people of the United Commonwealths.

Margaret knew that this plan was unrealistic and impractical for many nations across the region. For many a developing country that relied heavily on coal and oil for its economy and energy needs - this would not be possible without huge international support; which at the time seems lacking. In Altera's case, Margaret planned to pin Altera's objection to the amount - but not the principle - of spending such a huge portion on energy. Her nation was already considered ahead of the game in reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the majority of the nation's power came from nuclear, there was a burgeoning hydrogen-fuel cell industry spanning across both Altera and Ainslie, and a growing proportion of privately owned vehicles were hybrid or pure electric. She had prepared a speech to argue against the plan and to propose a more balanced and flexible approach that would take into account the different circumstances and capacities of each country; hoping that she could persuade the other delegates to see reason and to avoid imposing a one-size-fits-all solution that would harm Altera’s - and the wider region - development and sovereignty.

She took her seat at the table and waited for her turn to speak, taking in the faces and discussions taking place around her. She looked around the hall and saw the faces of hundreds of politicians, scientists, activists, journalists, and observers. Feeling a surge of adrenaline and anxiety, she knew that this debate was not only about climate change, but also about power, interests, and values. She knew that she had to defend Altera’s position and interests, but also to show respect and cooperation with the international community. She knew that this was a historic moment, and that her words and actions would have lasting consequences for her country and the world.

She took a deep breath and looked at her notes. It was time to make a difference.

[The Tsunterlands]

/snip

[Bavarno]

Talon Orvek, the Bavarnan representative to Aeternus, had fought hard to get sent as his nation's representative. The Cabinet had been divided on whether to send either him, in his role as Minister of Energy, or Kosa Banaya, the Minister of the Interior. Banaya was far more radical on climate policy, even though they were both members of the Green Party. Banaya was a loyal supporter of the summit's main proposal, seeing it as a necessary act of international cooperation to stop climate change. Orvek harshly opposed the Aeternus proposal as unnecessarily strict. Spending 15% of Bavarno's GDP was entirely unnecessary, and far too costly for the nation's treasury. The nation did not have the resources to implement the 10% carbon capture plan either. Besides, Bavarno was playing its part. Energy had, controversially, been nationalized in 2010 under the state-owned Bavarneda company. Bavarneda had moved the country rapidly away from oil and fossil fuels, and further towards renewable energy and nuclear power. The new budget that was being debated in the halls of the Purugera was slated to include many incentives for electric vehicles and tax breaks for private solar power.

Due to this situation, the Liberals in the Cabinet reasoned, why bother going? If Bavarno was already helping stop climate change, why ruin the economy trying to go further than Bavarno already was? Let the other nations spend their precious time debating and compromising, while Bavarno focuses on other issues. Orvek was not one of those members. He believed, like most of his Green Party, that they at least needed to be seen offering a solution, not just keeping the status quo and ignoring other possible solutions. They needed to keep the populace on their side, the populace that had just granted them 4 years in government. The populace had long agitated for environmental reform, which Orvek had helped deliver. He had used his party's position to pressure Prime Minister Erkani into offering his support for Bavarnan attendance at the summit. A compromise was reached that Orvek would try his damndest to reduce the requirements of the Aeternus summit, while still attending to show token support for further green initiatives.

As Orvek took his spot at the table for the first major act of his term as Minister of Energy, he steeled himself for the negotiations to come.

[Remodio]

Riid Sarno, Remodio's professional on all things energy-related, arrived to the summit on behalf of the Remodin government, who were very reluctant to send him. The Rhumba, Tuurn Ropine, believed in combatting climate change but believed that it shouldn't be on the shoulders of developing nations such as Remodio. While Sarno himself personally believed that the measures under Prong 2 were reasonable, the Ropine government heavily disagreed and Sarno was under strict orders to portray that. But that didn't mean Saarno couldn't try to argue for less commitment from Prong 2 nations and more from Prong 1 nations. Perhaps if he argued this eloquently, he could please both sides of his inner conflict - his commitment to Remodio and his commitment to climate activism.

Riid's plan was to voice his opposition to a 15% GDP commitment - that was unnegotiable for Remodio. The 10% carbon capture mandate certainly would turn heads in the Ropine government as well. Remodio was just setting foot in the international stage, and as such, the citizens of the country were skeptical of the international ties Remodio was getting itself involved in. With extremism on the rise, how would a climate deal that strangled the Remodin economy look? But Remodio's rapid development in recent years also brought about more pollution, and the low levels of the Remodin Archipelago made rising sea levels a massive concern. Riid would have to balance the wishes of the current Remodin citizen with the concerns of a future Remodio. Tuurn Ropine was never a fan of climate activism personally, but she recognized its' importance, and used climate change as a justification to nationalize several aspects of the energy industry in 2019. Riid knew that Remodio had the power to enforce these climate mandates, but not the structure.

Thus, when Riid Sarno sat at his table, he finalized his strategy: guilt-trip and deflect. He'd blame the developed nations of the world for keeping the Remodin economy down, and as such, it wasn't Remodio's fault that we weren't fully developed yet. Perhaps, by pulling at the heart strings of heartless diplomats, less commitment would be asked of from developing nations like Remodio and more commitment would be asked of from developed nations to pick up the slack.

[Solaryia]

Sylwia Sinine glanced around the room of delegates, observing their initial reactions, and more amusingly the expressions on all of their faces upon hearing the proposal, which seemed to vary from concern, to minor confusion, to outright shock. The Deputy Minister of Environment had flown all the way from Eridanis for this summit, and some results of the jet lag could still be seen in the dark shadows under her eyes as she observed the room, although she figured that she managed to look presentable enough. After waiting a few more seconds, Sylwia supposed that someone would need to stand up to voice the issues that they should obviously all have with the proposal lest the summer fail entirely, and she guessed that that someone had to be her by the silence of the other delegates.

“While I fully agree with the sentiment behind this proposal, there are some… issues that I think need to be addressed before it can be seriously considered by our government and the international community as a whole.” She started, standing up and attempting to project her voice across the room so that all could hear, with the faint melodic intonation that was so common among Solaryi accents.

“Both issues pertain to the rather ambitious numbers set for land and money being sent towards environmental conservation. Firstly, land. What exactly does “climate capture technology” entail? Solaryia is a land of many naturally grown, millenia old forests. Do those count as carbon capture technology from the start? And in addition, 10%, and even 5% seems like a very lofty goal. That’s potentially tens of thousands of square kilometers of land, and it would be a nightmare for any nation without carbon neutral land to start, such as forests, to achieve that goal. And then comes the task of organizing and documenting all that land, which would be nearly as monumental. I instead propose attempting to set goals of recapturing certain amounts of carbon in tons per nation, rather than dedicating a particular percentage of land.” Sinine took a pause in talking, taking a breath and mulling over her words. She both didn’t want to sound too harsh towards the Aeterosans, but also wanted to convey the sheer and substantial problems with their proposal.

“And more problematic, I firstly believe that you intended to mean 18% of a nation’s yearly government budget and not nearly 1/5th of its entire economy. And secondly, even when limited to the government budget, I’m sure that most delegates here would agree that 18% is not only preposterous, but simply untenable. I do not intend to brag about the nation of my birth, however I would consider Solaryia to be one of the more environmentally conscious nations in these Isles. We care for our environment, and try our best to support and preserve it, and even then we still only spend a maximum of two to three percent of our total budget on environmental protection. This is multiplied by the fact that we are a rather wealthy, developed country in the total… scale of things, with the budgetary ability to support our environmental efforts. I apologize if this sounds harsh, but how would you expect most developing or recently developed nations, who primarily rely on fossil fuels and less environmentally sound industries to be able to dedicate an entire 15% of their budget to this?” Sinine paused for a few seconds, straightening out her light grey jacket.

“Thank you for your consideration, and my apologies for the long speech. I look forwards to hearing the considerations of the other delegates” She finished, nodding towards the Aeterosan representative before sitting back down in her chair.

[Bavarno]

Orvek stood to speak after the Solaryian delegate sat down.

"I agree with the delegate from Solaryia. The requirements of the current proposal are far too extreme, especially for more developing nations that are dependent on fossil fuels. Setting aside a full tenth of our land area for carbon capture is untenable, even if we simply plant trees or other fauna and do not invest in artificial carbon capture technology. Those trees would have to remain untouched in order to remain in accordance with this proposal, which would force us to set aside currently existing forests or plant new ones and somehow take up 5% of our land area. Nations with a smaller land area will suffer from this, as they already have so little land to work with, and they will suddenly need to set aside large portions of their land for climate purposes. This is the case especially for smaller nations who have done their part to slow climate change and would have an EPI of 50 or more. They have helped how they can, and we would require them to set aside a tenth of their already limited land? It's not a good idea. If we were to use artificial means of carbon capture, we would need to both buy the equipment from a manufacturer, which would be expensive, and we would have to set aside land for it on top of the 5% natural capture methods. The proposal for using 10% of the land area is not sustainable for several nations, and should be either reduced to a saner figure, or replaced with the Solaryian delegate's proposal of capturing a certain amount of carbon in tons." He paused, taking a drink from a bottle of water.

"Furthermore, the idea that we would spend 18% or 15% of our national GDP on climate measures is ludicrous. The entire current national budget of Bavarno is around 49% of our GDP. This proposal would either raise that by more than a third, if no cuts were made in other areas, or require us to cut many essential pieces of spending to satisfy the terms of this proposal. We currently already spend around 3% of our GDP on sustainable energy through a state-owned energy company. That would increase sixfold under the current proposal to 64 billion IAD, 3 times more than what we spent on defense each year, and around the same amount that we spent on providing universal healthcare to our citizens each year. I don't believe that much spending is a cost that most nations are able to bear. In summary, I believe the proposal before us is far too extreme to be implemented. It has good intentions, and to be viable, we need to tame its more radical portions. I propose that we set the amount to 5% of GDP for Prong One nations, and 3% of GDP for Prong Two nations, or set the standard based on a percentage of government spending rather than GDP."

[Biaten]

The Biatenian Government has sent Minister of the Environment Stanley Pilgrim, a progressive environmentalist, to the Climate Summit, accompanied by the Biatenian Ambassador to Aeteros Stephen Emmett. The Minister listened attentively as the representatives of the various nations discussed the proposals laid forth by the Aeterosian representative. When it came for his time to speak, Minister Pilgrim rose from his seat, adjusting his glasses before addressing the gathered delegates.

"I applaud the esteemed representatives of Aeteros for raising the issue of tackling the urgent issue of climate change. We acknowledge the commendable efforts of Aeteros and the importance of collective action in safeguarding our planet's future. However, we must also consider the practicality and feasibility of the proposed targets and measures. While we share the common goal of combatting climate change, we believe the targets outlined in these proposals may be overly ambitious and, in some cases, unachievable. Biaten acknowledges the need for urgency, but we must also take into account the circumstances of each and every nation. It is crucial that we strike a balance between setting ambitious goals and ensuring that they are attainable. Biaten recognises the importance of sustainable energy and carbon neutral technologies. We have made significant strides in renewable energy production and are committed to further investment and research in this field. However, the proposed allocation of 18% of GDP for sustainable energy development may place an excessive burden on certain nations, hindering their economic growth and social welfare. Even in Biaten, this would account for almost half of its annual budget, and so therefore we would either have to make severe cuts to welfare, health and education in the billions, which would have a devastating impact on our people, borrow so much money that our great great grandchildren will be paying off the debt, or raising taxes so high on the upper classes that it causes a brain drain." The Minister took a drink of water before concluding.

"Biaten remains fully committed to international cooperation in combatting climate change. We propose that the proposed targets are assessed and adjusted, ensuring that they align with the capabilities and circumstances of each nation. By fostering dialogue and practical solutions, we can achieve a more inclusive and effective approach to addressing this global challenge." The Minister took his seat, awaiting the response of the other delegates.

[Great Altera]

It was Margaret's turn to partake in the debate. She listened carefully to the arguments of the other delegates, who mostly supported the principle of the plan - but questioned its implementation. They spoke passionately about the urgency and severity of the climate crisis, the moral duty and responsibility of all countries to act together, and the benefits and opportunities of transitioning to a green and sustainable economy. They cited scientific evidence, economic models, and ethical principles to back up their claims. They urged Altera and other reluctant countries to join the global effort and to show leadership and solidarity.

Margaret felt a mix of admiration and frustration. She agreed with many of the points they made, and she shared their concern and commitment for the environment. She also recognized their sincerity and goodwill. But she also felt that the authors of the proposal were ignoring or dismissing the realities and challenges that many nations faced. She felt that they were imposing a rigid and unfair framework that would put some at a disadvantage and undermine its autonomy and development. She felt that not listening or understanding their perspective and needs would be of a detriment to the proposal and the region.

She decided to speak from her heart and to appeal to their reason and empathy. She began her speech by acknowledging the gravity and complexity of the climate problem, and by expressing her appreciation and respect for the work and vision of the Summit. She then proceeded to explain why Altera could not accept the plan as it was, and why it needed more flexibility and support from the international community.

She pointed out the impracticality of spending 18% of Altera’s GDP on renewable energy development, which would mean diverting resources from other vital sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, and social welfare. She argued that this would jeopardize Altera’s economic growth and social stability, and that it would increase poverty and inequality in the country. Also highlighting the technical and logistical difficulties, it would prove exceedingly difficult to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources in such a fleeting time span, especially given some nation’s geographic and climatic conditions.

She then proposed an alternative plan that would allow Altera to gradually reduce its carbon emissions while maintaining its development goals. She suggested that Altera could commit to spending 5% of its GDP on renewable energy development by 2030 - using financing from both public and private sectors, and to phasing out fossil fuels by 2040. This broadly met Altera's current plans, but would also allow other less developed nations to play catch up. She also requested more financial and technical assistance from the developed countries, as well as more technology transfer and capacity building. She emphasized that Altera was willing to cooperate and contribute to the global solution, but that it also needed more recognition and respect for its specific situation and aspirations.

She concluded her speech by appealing to the common values and interests of all countries, and by calling for more dialogue and compromise. She said that she believed that there was a way to reconcile environmental protection and economic development, and that there was a possibility for a win-win outcome for all parties involved. She said that she hoped that the members of the Aeternus Summit would reconsider its plan and consider Altera’s proposal. She said that she was ready to engage in further discussions and negotiations with her counterparts.

She thanked the audience for their attention and sat down. She received a polite applause from some of the delegates, but also some cold stares from others. She wondered how her speech would be received by the members of the summit, by her own government, by the media, and by the public. She wondered if she had done enough to make a difference.

[Ainslie]

Josiah Karill looked around at the many people he was currently sharing the room with. As someone who was only elevated to the role of Environment Minister recently, he was feeling a somewhat palpable sense of trepidation. Ainslie had had a long history with the environmentalist movement, seeing it as a chief ally in its reform efforts - extending from pollution, environmental protection, to river management and biodiversity protection. The Ahnslen Government had been discussing the upcoming summit with its friends in Uprea and Aeteros, whom they have frequently collaborated with over recent years. The near Southern Sea nations were crucial for Ainslie's interests and important allies in terms of similar morality and values projection. Perhaps this is what had made Minister Karill particularly nervous. His Ministry had seen some of the material that was going to be presented at the summit, and they had expressed their deep concern at some of the more ambitious targets.

The final product was far more radical and severe than he, or many people in the Environment Ministry were expecting. This may not turn out to be the summit he was expecting, but he knew that he and the rather large delegation that were alongside him needed to be here. The opportunity was too great, the core creators of the agreement too important and the weight of the issue too large to not be actively engaged in multilateral efforts such as these hosted so close to Ainslie.

Josiah took a quick read of the documents before him, which he exchanged every few minutes with the other government officials around him who would hand him a policy briefing in return. He then listened attentively to the other speakers, thankful that he was not the only one in the room who thought that some of these proposals sounded like they were from another world. After listening to the leader of the Alteran delegation speak, he thought it was an opportune time for Ainslie to speak.

“Good afternoon delegates. As many of you will know, Ainslie is a nation on the forefront of the energy transition. For well over a decade, we have been shaping our own economy both directly and indirectly to grasp the great opportunity that awaits those who wish to repent from the dirty industrialism of the past. As you may have noticed, with me is a large delegation of people who have come from Ainslie. They are entrepreneurs, experts, technicians, people who really understand and have not only helped Ainslie in its solemn duty of being a forerunner in the energy transition but can do the same for similarly minded nations and those who wish to embark on the journey. They represent and embody the spirit of Ainslie - one of people deeply connected to the land they walk on, who deeply understand how it is changing and who want to care for it.

We are genuine contributors and fervent supporters of the energy transition and climate mitigation efforts. We host the Climate Response Council, are a founding Annex A party to the Kirsdoff Protocol and are not only meeting but exceeding the international obligations we have committed to.

It has taken us by surprise, then, that our nation may not fit clearly into ‘Prong One’ of the proposed agreement. Our nation has not reached 50% renewable energy generation yet, but will soon be - in fact, as of speaking now only two of our electorates out of six have reached this threshold. The bar may be placed too high in that respect.

This brings me to another point. Whilst it is presented as legislation, we need to be clear on what exactly we would be signing up to if we decide to. Is this a treaty, is it a declaration, is it some sort of acknowledgment of principles? Is it binding on those who sign it? What happens if people do not follow it?

We share the concern of many of the delegations here as to the proportion of public funds that should be directed towards the energy transition. We agree with many of their points and believe there is nothing further said or to be done in relation to those points except to say it is unlikely the agreement will be successful if those clauses are kept in there. Further, a commitment to no new coal or gas is similarly unfeasible. Whilst in Ainslie, such is the way of the market that it is unlikely many more major coal or gas projects will be established, we are very aware that this is not the case elsewhere. We also note that many nations have strong nuclear or growing grey hydrogen industries. These are essential for the energy transition and restraining economies from being able to access these opportunities is harmful to the very cause sought to be promoted.

We are gravely concerned about how climate capture and storage technology is described as a part of this agreement. For such an ambitious proposal, it is disappointing to see its interest or at least acceptance of artificial means of CCS. Time is showing that such projects lack the effectiveness or ability to meaningfully change the state of play at the moment. This technology may improve and get better over time, but it is not a bet we as an international community should be putting our hopes of carbon reduction on.

Notwithstanding our concerns, the Unified Electorates is earnestly committed to improving the existing body of international climate change agreements. It is aware that many are not signatories to the Kirsdoff Protocol and that there is a need for a more comprehensive arrangement now. As such, we propose that any agreement formed out of this summit should draw upon the following principles.

Principle 1: Transparency, Monitoring and Accountability
Parties should commit to measures of transparency and aide international organisations and bodies in monitoring the progress nations under this agreement are making toward meeting the goals under it. Therefore, there should be some level of reporting and monitoring work that is conducted prior to a yearly meeting of signatory parties to the agreement.

Principle 2: Adoption of Market-based Instruments
Parties should implement market-based instruments such as Carbon Credit Units and other means to ensure that those who pollute must factor into their costs the price of their emissions. The price should reflect the level of risk and harm that climate change will have on international economies. These instruments must have integrity and be monitored effectively by an international body

Principle 3: Carbon Farming and Reforestation
Parties should establish international standards for carbon farming schemes and reforestation efforts, allowing for these carbon emission activities to be profitable and financially desirable activities to undertake. The international standards should cover the majority of parties, or at least those who share similar carbon markets or allow for the exchange of international carbon credit units. Any reforestation or carbon farming initiatives should incorporate existing mechanisms that nations have already established, and should not consider pre-existing forests or carbon farms that occurred prior to those schemes.

Principle 4: Protecting Carbon Sinks
Parties should commit to long-term protections of vital ecosystems which provide abnormally high abilities to sequester carbon from the atmosphere such as mangrove environments, wetlands more broadly, large forests, and species which disproportionately absorb carbon.

Principle 5: Carbon Neutrality & Justice
Parties should commit to carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest, regardless of their economic or political status or development. Measures should be put in place for developed economies to be incentivised to help nations who will experience greater difficulty in the transition in order to ease the disproportionate burden they may have.

Principle 6: Electricity Transformation
Parties should commit to varying though marked levels of improvements in electrical grid infrastructure and battery technology to allow for the efficient transportation of electricity from areas that generate renewable electricity to those which consume it. This should be done on a domestic level and where possible internationally - with a focus on renewable energy producers exporting into economies in transition in order to fill any supply gaps.

Principle 7: Carbon Tariffs and Disincentives
There are many nations who have either chosen to not attend or simply to not engage and participate in the necessary work of climate change mitigation. Those who defy or hamper the efforts of those who are making sacrifices in order to achieve climate targets should actively pay through means such as coordinated multilateral carbon tariffs or other forms of disincentives to ensure that efforts by responsible States are not left in vain.

We propose these seven principles as a starting point. They only address climate change mitigation. Equally, we believe that climate change adaptation efforts should be addressed by an agreement that emerges out of this summit. We look forward to developing a comprehensive and achievable outcome out of this summit.”

After sitting down after his long speech, he relaxed a bit, knowing that he may have just created an opportunity to steer the summit’s discussions into a direction that would be a lot more palatable to bureaucrats back in Ahnerten and Gael more widely. He waited to see how palatable it would be to those in the room.

[Kravato]

The Kravatoan government selected Enviromental Minister Tava Luko to represent the nation in the Aeternus Climate Summit of 2023. She felt proud of her selection. Her diligent work ensuring that the nation's manufacturing industry would reduce its emissions had made her a leading activist in her home nation, and it seemed that this might be the height of her career, the perfect time to push her nation to act for the environment.

However, she wouldn't be alone. The Deputy Minister of Industry, the twenty-six-year-old Jovano Linrada was to accompany her. She had heard rumors about him, that he was just in his position because of his family's affluence, and that he had no care, nor any respect, for his position and duties. It was typical for someone of that style to be a deputy minister. However, it was Burkas's decision. Burkas and she had their differences, but she respected the Prime Minister. He needed to ensure that she would be in coherence with the rest of his administration, and the Minister of Industry was well-known for his contempt for travel. She trusted Burkas's choice. He tended to act well, or at least in good intent.

Tava arrived sharply on time, and found the opinions she heard interesting. The agreement would set a large amount of money aside, a whole 18%, for the environment, and she understood that the current priority for the Burkas Administration was winning the war in Iersheno. Oh, how she wanted to make Kravato a signee of this summit, but perhaps it was not meant to be. Where was Linrada, she thought to herself.

While she waited, she listened to the speakers. It seemed her sentiments about funding set aside for climate change were shared across the board. She thought that some were being too harsh, however. The idea of helping Prong Two nations was in fact, one she agreed with. Maybe, if a smaller amount was chosen, it would be considerable?

She prepared her talking points. Sorting through her papers, she found the speech she had prepared. A basic speech pleading for the lowering of the goals set by the summit, and not much else. It would express Kravato's more preoccupied stance on the issue, she hoped. She still had until the end of the Ahnslen speech to wait, ample time to prepare.

Just then, she heard a creaking in the door. A man, almost a boy, who must have been Linrada. He entered the room in a loud manner at first, but quickly changed his stance to sneak in to the Kravatoan seat. Before Tava could greet him, he spoke.

"Hello Ms. Luko, the Industry Minister wrote me a speech to say here. We're not agreeing to any of this, right?" He said. His voice was telling of his demeanor, and his disinterest in the climate issue.

"Not entirely, Jovano. This Ahnslen speaker gives many good points. Hopefully, they lower some of the required spending." She spoke. She had to admit, she said it in a patronizing manner.

"Alright then, as long as we have enough money to pay for more necessary and pressing things. Oh, its our turn to speak. I'll speak after you." He said.

Tava braced for her speech. She was very nervous, as she understood that she represented her country which desperately needed to prove itself in green energy. As long as Jovano didn't say something wrong.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen of all states present. I must say I am proud that our Western Islanders are mature enough to see the danger of this issue of climate change. I myself am proud to be here. However, I must also say that many of the points proposed by this legislation would commit vital parts of not just Kravato's budget, but the budgets of many states that have preexisting social or international issues that they face today. As I'm sure you are all well-aware, I represent a nation at war."

"Similarly, these Carbon-Tariffs would serve to make the task of creating green energy sources more difficult for Kravato. I understand the intent of these tariffs, to pressure states that do not care for the cause of environmental care into modernizing their industry, but we must not alienate states such as Kravato that could easily modernize in the near future."

"I agree more with the delegates from Ainslie, who have so far given a more reasonable and realistic method of tackling this issue. I must pass the floor to my colleague Mr. Linrada."

Tava gently set her papers down. She looked over at Jovano, who was fumbling through his papers. A paperclip fell off, and he looked over at her as if asking for help. Before she could offer any, he adjusted himself and got up to speak.

"I'll remember it anyways," He whispered to her.

"Good afternoon delegates. I have several questions to ask of the Aeterosan proposition. Firstly, how would we set about with the distribution of artificial carbon-capture technology across the isles? Will it be the duty of the private sector, or an additional grouping of our GDP along with the large 18% that is to be spent on improving our renewable energy sectors? It would mean a very high price set for the many nations struggling with their own economic or civil crises, such as those currently developing their economies. If we were to do carbon-tariffs, we would also prevent many developing nations from actually achieving Prong One status."

"I must also ask the Aeterosans if they understand the economic situation that almost all of Argus is currently placed in. Though Kravato itself is a strong Argean economy, and well-developed in most standards, we are at war. Additionally, nations such as Baumes and Gorvonia would be unable to go green in this manner as they face their own wars and civil crises. Due to this regional instability, there is a certain unwillingness for my people and the people of Argus to promise to uphold these climate objectives that would limit our ability to become economies as productive as those in Gael."

"Finally, I remind the whole of the delegation that these initiatives will only serve to benefit the global environment if high carbon producing nations such as Baumes are eased into signing. If it is truly intended to bring about change, we have to be hospitable to these nations and not eject them from this issue for their lack of care for it. It is, in fact, these "pariah" nations that are the most important in turning if we intend for this issue to be solved."

Jovano rested himself in his chair, putting his arms back as he turned over to Tava. Tava was surprised at his speech. Perhaps he did have a grasp of the issue, she thought.

[Aeteros]

Sylwia Sinine glanced around the room of delegates, observing their initial reactions, and more amusingly the expressions on all of their faces upon hearing the proposal, which seemed to vary from concern, to minor confusion, to outright shock. The Deputy Minister of Environment had flown all the way from Eridanis for this summit, and some results of the jet lag could still be seen in the dark shadows under her eyes as she observed the room, although she figured that she managed to look presentable enough. After waiting a few more seconds, Sylwia supposed that someone would need to stand up to voice the issues that they should obviously all have with the proposal lest the summer fail entirely, and she guessed that that someone had to be her by the silence of the other delegates.

“While I fully agree with the sentiment behind this proposal, there are some… issues that I think need to be addressed before it can be seriously considered by our government and the international community as a whole.” She started, standing up and attempting to project her voice across the room so that all could hear, with the faint melodic intonation that was so common among Solaryi accents.

“Both issues pertain to the rather ambitious numbers set for land and money being sent towards environmental conservation. Firstly, land. What exactly does “climate capture technology” entail? Solaryia is a land of many naturally grown, millenia old forests. Do those count as carbon capture technology from the start? And in addition, 10%, and even 5% seems like a very lofty goal. That’s potentially tens of thousands of square kilometers of land, and it would be a nightmare for any nation without carbon neutral land to start, such as forests, to achieve that goal. And then comes the task of organizing and documenting all that land, which would be nearly as monumental. I instead propose attempting to set goals of recapturing certain amounts of carbon in tons per nation, rather than dedicating a particular percentage of land.” Sinine took a pause in talking, taking a breath and mulling over her words. She both didn’t want to sound too harsh towards the Aeterosans, but also wanted to convey the sheer and substantial problems with their proposal.

“And more problematic, I firstly believe that you intended to mean 18% of a nation’s yearly government budget and not nearly 1/5th of its entire economy. And secondly, even when limited to the government budget, I’m sure that most delegates here would agree that 18% is not only preposterous, but simply untenable. I do not intend to brag about the nation of my birth, however I would consider Solaryia to be one of the more environmentally conscious nations in these Isles. We care for our environment, and try our best to support and preserve it, and even then we still only spend a maximum of two to three percent of our total budget on environmental protection. This is multiplied by the fact that we are a rather wealthy, developed country in the total… scale of things, with the budgetary ability to support our environmental efforts. I apologize if this sounds harsh, but how would you expect most developing or recently developed nations, who primarily rely on fossil fuels and less environmentally sound industries to be able to dedicate an entire 15% of their budget to this?” Sinine paused for a few seconds, straightening out her light grey jacket.

“Thank you for your consideration, and my apologies for the long speech. I look forwards to hearing the considerations of the other delegates” She finished, nodding towards the Aeterosan representative before sitting back down in her chair.

The Aeterosan Minister of the Environment nods to the various delegates before delivering his reply.
“First, I would like to thank you for voicing your concerns, this bill is incredibly ambitious even we can see that, and compromise is likely its only true hope to ever see itself become law. But do not be mistaken, this bills radicality is not born out of some innate desire to become one with nature, it is a matter of the survival of our species.

Global temperatures are expected to rise more in the next 50 years than they have in the previous 6,000, barely livable “hot-zones” will cover almost a fifth of the planets land by 2050 and that isn’t accounting for the land that will be lost to rising sea levels.

I do not intend to use this summit as a soapbox for doomsaying but I do believe in communicating the dire straits our planet has found itself in. These measures seem harsh, especially towards those more underdeveloped nations. It isn’t fair, on that I think we can all agree, but it is fact that the more underdeveloped nations are both the ones that likely played the least part in getting our climate to the sorry state it’s in and the ones who will suffer the most from its change, however, this bill is not a royal decree, it is legislation and compromise is the lifeblood of international diplomacy"

The minister then turns slightly to more directly face the Solaryian Delegate.

“Firstly, on the matter of carbon capture, it is the opinion of the Aeterosan Officials who put forward this legislation that natural carbon capture methods are preferable to artificial ones, mother nature just does it better than we can plain and simple. Forests are also not the only landscape capable of capturing carbon, in fact grasslands are far better carbon sinks than trees and are also easier to sustain in areas where forests are untenable.

That being said, 10% is certainly ambitious and while I am of the belief that such drastic measures are a necessity to safeguard the future health of the planet, we can’t enjoy said planet if the nations’ economies collapse attempting to fix it. Perhaps a more modest 4.5% would be easier to agree to?

Onto your second point of monetary allocation, Prong One nations by virtue of already having substantial sustainable energy infrastructure are already likely close to the mark of 18% of a budget spent on renewable energy. It is intended to be a somewhat modest increase of an already sizeable portion of funds being sent in that direction anyway. As for Prong Two, 15% is a large amount and certainly straining, but these nations are often also the ones with the most to lose. That being said, perhaps 10% could be a less radical alternative”

Having addressed the first of the bills many critics, the minister sat down to allow for further debate and statements to be made, and to also prepare responses to other earlier critiques.

(Also, just very quickly out of character, I did intend for it to be 18 and 15 percent of governmental budgets and not GDP, that was a mistake that somehow escaped my three rounds of revisions, many apologies for the confusion, we can just chalk it up to Aeteros being way too ambitious with this bill and being quick to walk it back to something a little less absolutely insane)

[Remodio]

Dr. Sarno gave a sigh of relief after Karill's speech, which voiced most of the concerns Sarno had without any of the expected skepticism that likely would've been present if a Remodin representative said it. He sat up from his chair and said, "I agree with the Ahnslen representative. I wanted to put particular emphasis on the fifth principle that he outlined: Carbon Neutrality and Justice. As the Aeterosan minister mentioned, it is countries like Remodio with the most to lose because of climate change. Despite the implication of the minister, that doesn't mean we should have most of the burden, however. Developing nations like Remodio have lagged behind other countries not out of choice, but out of circumstance. And those circumstances are largely not the fault of our own. We shouldn't have to sacrifice too much when we've already sacrificed enough. To put it simply, even 10% may be too much for a nation that is facing a plethora of issues unique to a still developing nation. I hate to point fingers, but I must remind the developed nations in this summit that the methods used for your development are the main reason climate change is such an issue. Remodio having to use similar methods, and being shunned because of the sins of those before us, is unacceptable unless developed nations take the majority of the burden in making sure Remodio and other developing nations can develop with limited fossil fuel usage. Remodio and her people are willing to work towards a common goal, but that goal must be achieved with justice and equity in mind. Thank you." Dr. Sarno sat down, hoping his speech pulled at the heart strings of the summit.

[Aeteros]

The Aeterosan Delegate listened intently to all the statements and criticism of the legislation. He had been expecting harsh pushback so it was far from surprising, good points had been made and while the Aeterosan Government was optimistic in the bills ability to pass he had never believed it could have without serious revisions and changes. After consulting with some of his delegation and intently reading over his nations legislation along with alternatives presented by visiting delegates, he had risen to speak. Hopeful that while this contribution would be far from the final product it could serve as its blueprint.

"I have hope that we can come together to find a useable yet still effective piece of legislation that can help to bring about genuine change. One piece that I will not abandon, is a multi pronged approach. Remodio's delegate and I have both spoken on the fact that these underdeveloped nations stand to loose the most and likely contributed the least to the problems we have. The whole purpose of the second prong is to allow for the replacement of an overall weaker "one size fits all" legislation, allowing those of a greater development with the ability to contribute more to this cause to do so. While also working to not overly punish those nations with less development. It allows far more reaching and far more extensive measures to be undertaken by those capable of shouldering the burden, in many cases those who contributed the most to the current state of the climate would play the largest part in working to repair the damage.

That being said, perhaps we can establish a few universal principles that all nations would adhere to regardless of prong, and then work with each individual prong, whether its one, two, three, or a dozen, to create an effective plan that allows for sustainable development without hurting that nation too much.

One thing I would like to state before this conversation even begins is that unfortunately for all of us, this process will likely not be a pleasant one, we can work to make it as seamless as possible causing as little disruption as possible but we must also ensure that actual change is made, serious change that would require sacrifices to be made for the sake of the health of our planet and the future generations that will live on it. Far too often massive nothing-burgers of policy are made in these sorts of summits in the attempt to ensure all approve. Our planet simply doesn't have that kind of time for us to spend decades pursuing mediocre change. I hope that we can all work together to find the best of both worlds, creating feasible legislation that allows for timely and effective changes to the way our governments and nations operate, thank you."

With that the delegate takes his seat and begins feverishly scribbling what would likely be his own nations proposals. While simultaneously glancing around the room to see who would speak next, and how his speech was received. He was hopeful that he had been able to curtail to worst of his governments environmental radicalism while not sacrificing too much of what the legislation intended to do, leaving it up to a committee was always a gamble, one that he hoped would pay off.

[Lesva]

Special Envoy for Climate and the Environment of the Throngist Republic of Lesva, the Honorable Meda Drodi, arrived at the summit largely as an observer. Although he was comfortable, free and relaxed, Drodi had formal restraints for his functions and role in this summit.

One of the restraints was that the Throngist Movement Party of Lesva did not have a clear climate policy, despite neither admitting nor denying the changes to the climate by activity on the ground. For the most part, the Party held a progressive view about climate change but did not talk too much about it nor formulate a clear policy, because of focus on other things. The second restraint, or a new reality rather, was that Lesva now had to coordinate its' climate policy with Balnik, since both countries were now building the United Federation of Gael together. The final restraint, not directly related to climate policy, was the fact that the Throngist Movement Party of Lesva was now experiencing difficulty in relations, although not open hostility, with a number of countries, whose representatives were attending the summit. Drodi would not avoid them and would engage in conversation upon approach or being addresses, but he expected that all discussions at the summit would remain climate-focused. For the most part, because of limits, Drodi's role would remain more of an observer and he would at most try to at least hear out what was discussed and hopefully take something back from the summit for the Party's consideration.

However, the minds of Drodi and those attending the summit alongside him, whether within the political delegation or security staff, they were distracted by news from their homeland throughout the days of the summit. They were following the closed in-Party information, as well as state news about the state of health of Taica Berislavić and whether he would remain the leader of the country and the Party because of his incapacitation and difficult condition from the Sapli Fever. Drodi and the delegation were part of the closed in-Party consultation on the fate of Taica Berislavić and then followed the information and the news all the way from the decision to remove Taica Berislavić from his position, nominate Jarren Prica and then appoint him as the new leader of the country and the party.

With some clarity now on the internal situation in Lesva, focus could now fully be given to the summit.

[Bavarno]

"I believe that we need a new framework for an agreement if we want to pass anything out of this summit," the Bavarnan delegate spoke. "In its current form, the initial legislation proposed by the Aeterosan delegation has been widely panned as too radical and too expensive. Instead, we need a more moderate and palatable agreement that all nations here can accept. I believe that an agreement based on the principles expressed by the Ahnslen delegate is the best way to go. I submit the following proposal for debate:"

Aeternus Agreement

Defines, for the purpose of this agreement,
- Signatory nation as a nation that has signed and ratified this agreement,
- Carbon dioxide or equivalent(s) as any substance that contributes to the greenhouse effect,
- Climate-friendly energy as any form of energy production that does not create carbon emissions, including solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, or hydroelectric power,
-

Section 1: All nations that sign this agreement shall faithfully implement all of its provisions.

Section 2: All nations that sign this agreement shall survey the effectiveness of their implementation of these provisions in a yearly report.

Section 3: An Environmental Oversight Council shall be established to monitor each nation's implementation of this agreement's provisions. It shall be made up of one member from each
signatory nation.

Section 4: The nations of this agreement, as well as the Environmental Oversight Council, shall take a nation's level of economic development into account when monitoring the
implementations of this agreement.

Section 5: The signatory nations shall meet in a yearly summit to propose updates and review the reports submitted by the signatory nations.

Section 6: Signatory nations shall impose trade restrictions on those nations that are not parties to this agreement.

Section 7: A carbon credit scheme shall be established for both international and domestic uses, where each nation provides a limited amount of "credits" to corporations that reduce carbon
emissions. These carbon credits are required for any business that causes carbon emissions, with 1 ton of carbon dioxide or equivalent removed equal to one credit. Businesses that
seek to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or equivalent must purchase the number of credits necessary to cover their emissions.

Section 8: Carbon credits may also be traded between nations. A nation may pay for the creation of a emission-offsetting area in another nation and will gain the number of carbon credits that
the area will create.

Section 9: The number of available carbon credits will slowly decrease over time until no carbon credits will be available by 2050. The number of carbon credits in circulation will be regulated
by the Environmental Oversight Council. If the number of credits is to be reduced, signatory nations will purchase credits from companies that produce them, instead of the credits
being sold to another business. These credits will then be considered consumed and will not be transferable or reusable.

Section 10: When a carbon credit is bought by a business to offset a carbon emission, that carbon credit is consumed. It may not be reused, nor sold to another business.

Section 11: Signatory nations shall seek to protect their natural environments, including areas that serve as natural carbon sinks.

Section 12: Signatory nations shall seek to transition to climate-friendly energy sources, with a goal of being 50% climate-friendly by 2050 for developing nations, and 70% climate-friendly by
2050 for developed nations.

Section 13: The governments of the developing signatory nations shall spend at least 8% of their government spending on promoting climate-friendly energy, improving infrastructure to mitigate
climate change, fulfilling their obligations under this agreement, and other climate measures. Developed signatory nations shall spend at least 12%.

[Tricklandia]

A tall man of distinct Polynesian descent, long, green dyed hair and sporting two large earrings smiled at the agreement in front of him. He was Smaa'el Kwaa'ahi, Tricklandia's Ministry of Sustainability and Landscape.

He picked up the pen in front of him and signed the paper on the first spot.

"All said and done. Expect us in a year, then. Until then, we'll keep things transparent." he said, in a thick accent sounding like French and Polynesian together.

Smaa'el was not alarmed at all. Tricklandia was far ahead with progress regarding climate; 2050 was actually an expected goal for carbon-neutrality by national standards, before any climate summit appeared. Fossil fuel cars were on their way out, and without even considering that, cars in general hadn't been subsidized probably since the second Baza administration 25 years before. Most buildings had solar panels installed, and three strategically placed nuclear powerplants compensated for rainy, cloudy days and nights. All Tricklandia really had to do was invest a tiny bit more on environmental policy, open up channels for less climate-friendly nations, and change the carbon tax law from Tricklandian credits to carbon credits. They even had the same name. Funny.

Now it was time to hear from Renée. Smaa'el hoped it wouldn't be too hard to convince her, but you never know.

With a beaming smile, Smaa'el stared at the Aeterosan delegate for a moment. Then, he brought his gaze back down.

[Aeteros]

"I believe that we need a new framework for an agreement if we want to pass anything out of this summit," the Bavarnan delegate spoke. "In its current form, the initial legislation proposed by the Aeterosan delegation has been widely panned as too radical and too expensive. Instead, we need a more moderate and palatable agreement that all nations here can accept. I believe that an agreement based on the principles expressed by the Ahnslen delegate is the best way to go. I submit the following proposal for debate:"

Aeternus Agreement

Defines, for the purpose of this agreement,
- Signatory nation as a nation that has signed and ratified this agreement,
- Carbon dioxide or equivalent(s) as any substance that contributes to the greenhouse effect,
- Climate-friendly energy as any form of energy production that does not create carbon emissions, including solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, or hydroelectric power,
-

Section 1: All nations that sign this agreement shall faithfully implement all of its provisions.

Section 2: All nations that sign this agreement shall survey the effectiveness of their implementation of these provisions in a yearly report.

Section 3: An Environmental Oversight Council shall be established to monitor each nation's implementation of this agreement's provisions. It shall be made up of one member from each
signatory nation.

Section 4: The nations of this agreement, as well as the Environmental Oversight Council, shall take a nation's level of economic development into account when monitoring the
implementations of this agreement.

Section 5: The signatory nations shall meet in a yearly summit to propose updates and review the reports submitted by the signatory nations.

Section 6: Signatory nations shall impose trade restrictions on those nations that are not parties to this agreement.

Section 7: A carbon credit scheme shall be established for both international and domestic uses, where each nation provides a limited amount of "credits" to corporations that reduce carbon
emissions. These carbon credits are required for any business that causes carbon emissions, with 1 ton of carbon dioxide or equivalent removed equal to one credit. Businesses that
seek to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or equivalent must purchase the number of credits necessary to cover their emissions.

Section 8: Carbon credits may also be traded between nations. A nation may pay for the creation of a emission-offsetting area in another nation and will gain the number of carbon credits that
the area will create.

Section 9: The number of available carbon credits will slowly decrease over time until no carbon credits will be available by 2050. The number of carbon credits in circulation will be regulated
by the Environmental Oversight Council. If the number of credits is to be reduced, signatory nations will purchase credits from companies that produce them, instead of the credits
being sold to another business. These credits will then be considered consumed and will not be transferable or reusable.

Section 10: When a carbon credit is bought by a business to offset a carbon emission, that carbon credit is consumed. It may not be reused, nor sold to another business.

Section 11: Signatory nations shall seek to protect their natural environments, including areas that serve as natural carbon sinks.

Section 12: Signatory nations shall seek to transition to climate-friendly energy sources, with a goal of being 50% climate-friendly by 2050 for developing nations, and 70% climate-friendly by
2050 for developed nations.

Section 13: The governments of the developing signatory nations shall spend at least 8% of their government spending on promoting climate-friendly energy, improving infrastructure to mitigate
climate change, fulfilling their obligations under this agreement, and other climate measures. Developed signatory nations shall spend at least 12%.

The Aeterosan Minister of Environment listened intently to the Bavarnian delegates proposal. He was pleased, this was far more reasonable than the demands of his government, not as far as he would have liked personally but he understood that the wider community would never agree to his harsher measures. He stood to address the assembled body

While I am not sure that this is ready to be signed as of this moment, I think we are certainly very close to something workable. I have a few questions regarding certain measures, firstly with Section 3. I think the idea of an Environmental Oversight Council is a fine idea that could require some fleshing out, who would head it if anyone? where would it be headquartered? All things I believe we can flesh out easily but things that definitely need to be in order for this to be a complete resolution.

For Section 5 I would like to move that Aeternus would host these yearly summits as we are hosting this current one, and matters of environmental protection are at the forefront of our governments concerns. Finally, for Section 6 While I am not opposed to the idea of trade sanctions against non-signatories I am worried it may cause unnecessary tension, perhaps we establish a grace period of 6 months or so for nations to become signatories before leveling sanctions? Thus allowing nations more sympathetic to the principles of this bill the time to ratify it without being damaged unnecessarily. That all being said I think this is a fine resolution and while I am not ready to sign it yet it has my full support and I have full confidence in its ability to pass.

The Delegate takes his seat, eager to see what the rest of the assembled nations would say about this new resolution. He was hopeful that while this was not the massive reforms his government had hoped for they would understand the need for compromise

[Bavarno]

snip

The Aeterosan Minister of Environment listened intently to the Bavarnian delegates proposal. He was pleased, this was far more reasonable than the demands of his government, not as far as he would have liked personally but he understood that the wider community would never agree to his harsher measures. He stood to address the assembled body

While I am not sure that this is ready to be signed as of this moment, I think we are certainly very close to something workable. I have a few questions regarding certain measures, firstly with Section 3. I think the idea of an Environmental Oversight Council is a fine idea that could require some fleshing out, who would head it if anyone? where would it be headquartered? All things I believe we can flesh out easily but things that definitely need to be in order for this to be a complete resolution.

For Section 5 I would like to move that Aeternus would host these yearly summits as we are hosting this current one, and matters of environmental protection are at the forefront of our governments concerns. Finally, for Section 6 While I am not opposed to the idea of trade sanctions against non-signatories I am worried it may cause unnecessary tension, perhaps we establish a grace period of 6 months or so for nations to become signatories before leveling sanctions? Thus allowing nations more sympathetic to the principles of this bill the time to ratify it without being damaged unnecessarily. That all being said I think this is a fine resolution and while I am not ready to sign it yet it has my full support and I have full confidence in its ability to pass.

The Delegate takes his seat, eager to see what the rest of the assembled nations would say about this new resolution. He was hopeful that while this was not the massive reforms his government had hoped for they would understand the need for compromise

"I believe that, as an international body, the Environmental Oversight Council should be headquartered in the International District. I also disagree with your idea of hosting yearly summits only in Aeternus. I believe we should rotate the summit location among member countries in alphabetical order. If I have it right and assuming that all nations represented here become signatories, then the summit location would be rotated as Aeteros, Ainslie, Altera, Bavarno, Biaten, Kravato, Lesva, Remodio, Tricklandia, and the Tsunterlands.

I do agree with your thoughts of a grace period. We certainly do not want to harm nations who may have to undergo a long ratification process for the treaty. I believe a 6-month period is a perfect length for such a grace period."

[Tricklandia]

"I fully agree with Bavarno here. And I apologize for the impulsivity of my action, especially to any nations that could need the grace period. I didn't think it through."

[Aeteros]

snip

"I believe that, as an international body, the Environmental Oversight Council should be headquartered in the International District. I also disagree with your idea of hosting yearly summits only in Aeternus. I believe we should rotate the summit location among member countries in alphabetical order. If I have it right and assuming that all nations represented here become signatories, then the summit location would be rotated as Aeteros, Ainslie, Altera, Bavarno, Biaten, Kravato, Lesva, Remodio, Tricklandia, and the Tsunterlands.

I do agree with your thoughts of a grace period. We certainly do not want to harm nations who may have to undergo a long ratification process for the treaty. I believe a 6-month period is a perfect length for such a grace period."

The Delegate consulted with his entourage for a few minutes before turning back to the assembled body
The United Commonwealth of Aeteros finds this resolution and the changes we've made more than acceptable, when this resolution comes to a vote it will have our full support

[Ainslie]

"The Bavarnan delegation has presented a pleasing resolution, though we would wish for it to be amended prior to us being able to commit to it. We agree with the approach of the honourable delegate from Aeteros, but express reservations surrounding Section 6. We believe the opportunity for cities outside of Aeteros to host this summit could be a powerful signal for the international community that the nations of this agreement are committed and that this is not the centralised effort of one nation. Having the conference move around to different cities each year would draw scrutiny to nations who wish to host yet are not meeting their obligations perfectly. As for Section 6, we would need to discuss the issue of trade sanctions with our Gaelitic allies in the Gael Four Agreement so as not to fall foul of that agreement.

We also believe a six month grace period may not be flexible enough. If trade sanctions are an option under the agreement, it would be ideal for the Oversight Council to discuss the extent and immediacy of any sanctions against a nation acting against the carbon mitigation project we wish to undertake here. There will need to be unanimity amongst nations on levying the carbon tariff system against a certain nation, though it seems reasonable for informal groups under the agreement to implement tariffs individually yet together where unanimity is not possible.

More specifically, there are a few alterations we wish to advance.

Firstly on Section 1, we wish it to read all of its provisions to the best of its ability. This would allow the section to be clearer. We also propose a baseline level of emissions over Section 7 until we reach a situation where carbon neutrality can be the benchmark. For example, if we entrust the Oversight Council to set a baseline standard by which anyone who emits above it needs to purchase credits and anyone below it can sell, this would bring the market into a more realistic and effective position from day 1. We believe that this would also better honour Section 9, as the volume of credits would naturally reduce over time as the baseline level of emissions in a given economy would decrease also.

Section 13 also we believe is too onerous of a standard. The number in our opinion should be lowered, or the target a goal rather than a mandate."

[Great Altera]

Swiping through the notes collected on her digital tablet, Margaret Kahn looked at the latest draft of the resolution. She frowned as she read Section 6, which stated that signatory nations shall impose trade restrictions on those nations that are not parties to this agreement. She shook her head and, picking up a pen as she did so, moved towards the microphone to make her - and Altera's - stance quite clear.

"I too join our neighbours from Ainslie in congratulating the Bavarnan delegation at a potential resolution, and too we have some concerns regarding several of the sections. We must make amendments before we can mull the possibility of signing such a binding contract. We regret, that in its current form, Section 6 is unacceptable and counterproductive.

"Primarily, it violates the principles of free trade and fair competition that the United Commonwealths has always upheld and promoted in the international arena. Trade restrictions are a form of economic coercion that will only breed resentment and hostility among non-signatory nations, rather than encourage them to join the agreement. In the event of nations not meeting the criteria, many a nation may conclude that ignoring or rescinding from the treaty to be preferable than not trading with a partner.

"The suspension of trade will harm the United Commonwealths own economy and interests, as well as those of its allies and trading partners. Altera depends on imports and exports of various goods and services from and to non-signatory nations, such as energy, food, raw materials and technology. Imposing trade restrictions will disrupt the supply chains, increase the costs, reduce the quality, and lower the standards of these goods and services, affecting both producers and consumers. We cannot unfairly pass-the-buck to the citizen. The proposal is supposedly for the betterment of humankind - not to penalise the poor; as that is what trade sanctions do. The threat of sanction should be held against the throat of belligerent and openly hostile nations - not citizens of countries that lag behind in emissions quotas.

"The suspension of, or merely the threat, trade will undermine the effectiveness and credibility of the agreement itself, as well as Altera’s leadership and reputation in the global environmental movement. The agreement is supposed to be a voluntary and cooperative effort among nations to address the common challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, etc. Imposing trade restrictions will create divisions and conflicts among nations, eroding the trust and goodwill that are essential for achieving the agreement’s goals and objectives.

"Therefore, I propose that Section 6 be deleted or amended to reflect a more constructive and positive approach to engaging with non-signatory nations. Instead of imposing trade restrictions, we should offer incentives and assistance to help them adopt more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. We need the carrot, not just the stick. We should also engage in dialogue and diplomacy to persuade them of the benefits and necessity of joining the agreement. Respect of a nation's sovereignty and diversity should be paramount to any international agreement, and we should strive acknowledge their different circumstances and challenges. Only by working together in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation can we hope to make a difference for our planet and our future.

"In addition to the comments made by my colleague and partner from Ainslie, I must also voice our concerns regarding the imposing of quotas under Section 13. We believe that Section 13 is unrealistic and unfair.

"At its core, it merely imposes a rigid and arbitrary percentage of government spending on climate measures, without taking into account the different needs, priorities, and capacities of each signatory nation. Some nations may need to spend more or less than the prescribed percentage, depending on their level of development, economic situation, social context, environmental conditions, etc. A one-size-fits-all approach will not work for such a complex and diverse issue as climate change. 8% of our government budget is close to what we spend on public transport and policing; do we take peace officers off the streets and cut bus services to fund this? Even though our private sector and government initiatives easily match this spending already? To us, it seems quite absurd.

"It places an undue burden on the developing signatory nations, who already face many challenges and constraints in their development process. They may not have the financial resources, technical expertise, institutional capacity, or political will to allocate such a large share of their budget to climate measures, especially when they have other pressing needs such as poverty reduction, health care, education, etc. Forcing them to do so may compromise their development goals and human rights.

"Whilst written in good faith, Section 13 unfortunately creates a double standard and a moral hazard for the developed signatory nations, who are largely responsible for causing and exacerbating climate change in the first place. They may use the prescribed percentage as an excuse to avoid taking more ambitious and meaningful actions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, conserve their natural resources, support the adaptation and mitigation efforts of the developing nations, etc. They may also use their economic and political power to influence or coerce the developing nations to comply with their demands.

"Therefore, I propose that Section 13 be replaced or revised to reflect a more flexible and equitable approach to financing climate measures. Instead of imposing a fixed percentage of government spending, we should adopt a principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. This means that each signatory nation should contribute according to its historical responsibility for causing climate change, its current capacity to address it, and its future potential to benefit from it. We should also establish a global fund to mobilize and channel financial resources from the developed to the developing nations, based on transparent and accountable mechanisms. We should also encourage and facilitate the participation of other actors such as private sector, civil society, local communities, etc. in financing and implementing climate measures. This will take more time an energy to create and perfect; but ultimately it will be far fairer, effective and efficient than a singular quota."

[Biaten]

Minister Pilgrim stood to take to the microphone to express his concern and opposition with some of the Sections of this Agreement.

“I concur with our friends and neighbours from Ainslie and Altera. While I can appreciate the intent of this resolution in tackling a major global issue that concerns us all, the fact remains that the resolution is far too draconian for many nations across the Western Isles, especially lower-income and middle-income countries.

One of the sections, which particularly stick out like a sore thumb, which the delegates from Ainslie, Altera and Bavarno have rightfully raised attention to, is Section 6, mandating that all signatories embargo non-signatories. As my colleague here, Ambassador Emmett, has pointed out to me, this is, to be frank, one of the worst sections of an international agreement anyone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ever set its eyes on. This Agreement would request that we use a diplomatic tool that my administration would only use on hostile nations that would militarily attack our allies and partners abroad, not on nations who refuse to sign up to same international agreements we do. Section 6 would seek to punish lower income nations that merely do not have the financing nor ability to implement the provisions of this Agreement.

As all of you should know, economic growth can be separated into five stages: a traditional society, where a society has a pre-scientific technological understanding; preconditions of take-off, where a society achieves enlightenment and capitalism; take-off, which many nations would understand to be an industrial revolution; the drive to maturity, which many of our nations are at, where a middle class is growing and a tertiary sector is developing; and the age of mass consumption, where a society mass consumes goods and services and earthly concerns such as hunting for food and fending of threats are unknown to everyone. Why do I mention this? To disperse the misconception that all nations are at the last 2 stages. As a matter of fact, there are nations across the Western Isles at all of these stages except for perhaps the first one. Nations that are either in take-off or have the preconditions for take-off, or even in the early stages of the drive to maturity, do not yet have the ability to establish their own dominant green energy industry. These countries need their economies to develop if they are to one day achieve carbon neutrality, and as such we cannot support a provision which, as the delegate from Altera has rightfully stated, that would hinder this growth.

I must also object to Section 13 of this agreement, that mandates that all nations spend 8% or 12% of their expenditure on tackling climate change. While it would be a pipedream for my Ministry to receive $5 billion towards tackling climate change, the fact of the matter is this would result in major cuts to essential services, including social security, healthcare and transport, that our people rely on. I can’t even imagine the effect such a measure would have on developing economies. I would instead suggest that each developed nation, that is any nation above $20,000 GDPpC, be mandated to impose a carbon tax on polluting companies and contribute that money towards climate-friendly energy and infrastructure, as well as maybe help developing nations develop their own economies and green technology.

Until these sections are amended appropriately or removed, Biaten will not ratify this agreement in its current form.”

The Minister seated himself after he finished speaking.

[Tricklandia]

Smaa'el takes up word.

"I, respectfully, have a few objections to your critiques.

First of all, Section 6 never speaks about embargos, per se. All it talks about is "trade sanctions", which is a very generic term that could mean anything, from extremely contained to drastic maneuvers. I concur that Section 6 needs to be rewritten as to be more specific and less subject to ambiguity.

Secondly, I do not think the spending goal proposed in Section 13 is much unreasonable, but admittedly, that is most likely due to Tricklandia's budget priorities specifically, so I will not object to critiques on it. And I do agree on the fact that developing countries may not have the means to adhere to these new goals, and as such are at risk of sanctions. I do realize, and I quote Ms. Kahn here, the developed nations are historically responsible for having caused climate change. So, I do believe that developed nation have to divert a significant part of said spending towards international aid and funding of green practices in developing nations from the get-go. This could be explicited in the treaty.

We can also agree on extending the grace period and lowering the necessary spending rate for developing countries, which, if what I just said is applied, is still more than sustainable. An adequate non-fixed rate would be agreeable, too.

Lastly, though, I want to publicly remind everyone here that the stakes are high. Many nations, especially island nations like mine, are put at risk by sea level rise, and may experience extreme distress in the following decades. The so-called "economy" and "free market" will surely be effected by these many countries having severe issues due to climate change, on a global scale, and may result in cuts to public services and systems worse than what the increased budget would entail. We have to remind ourselves that we are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean; we are much at risk. That is all. If you have any inquiries, I am obviously open to debates, critiques, or even constructive insults."