Topic: Global Emissions Summit

Written by Chris Titus, CFA

Language: English (business)
Level: Intermediate and up

Vocabulary

• curb
• tensions
• to police
• summit
• binding
• substantive
• emissions

Idioms

• Get up to speed / Hit the ground running
• 80/20 Rule
• Get buy-in
• Kick off
• Eyes on the ground / Johnny on the spot / man on the ground
• Checks and balances

Article/Questions

The United Nations proposed that rich countries pay to help poor ones curb pollution, while cutting their own emissions by at least 75% and possibly more than 95% by 2050 -- a suggestion that heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over climate change.

• Why should rich countries pay to help poor countries curb pollution?
• What exactly should rich countries pay for?
• Do you think global pollution increases when a company moves its factory from the U.S. to China?  Why?  Do they have the same regulations for controlling pollution?
• Does anyone really want to reduce their pollution? 
• What are the effects on daily living if you reduce your pollution output?
• When they say a country must reduce its emissions by 95%, what is the measurement?

It isn't clear that the Copenhagen summit will yield a binding agreement on nations' efforts to combat climate changes. The U.N. document is the first official attempt to outline a substantive agreement from the summit.

• If an agreement is reached, what is a key component that must be included?  It is related to your field of work.
• How can a government or global agency, such as the U.N., police something like CO2 emissions?
• What are some checks and balances they could put into place to measure CO2 emissions?
• Would you need men on the ground to measure these things?

Role Play / Activity

On Friday, negotiations continued for a fifth day of the 12-day conference, with ministers from a number of countries directly participating in the talks. The draft proposal is vague in key areas to be discussed late next week, when many world leaders arrive.

• If the leaders agree to sign this deal, what will they need to do back in their countries? (look in the idiom list)
• You work as the chief internal auditor responsible monitoring CO2 emissions in your country.  Develop a plan for monitoring CO2 emissions on a global basis?  Describe the economic impact of other countries not sticking to the agreement.  Use as many idioms as possible from the list above.

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