Mock Exam: LAW AND POLICY ON CLIMATE CHANGE

TWO HOURS: Answer 3 questions out of the following 8:

1. Should the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) remain a core element of the future international climate regime?

2. Critically assess the extent to which the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) can successfully strike a balance between achieving sustainable development in non-Annex I Parties and meeting Annex I Parties’ emissions reduction targets.

3. Do you think that the EU has drawn the correct balance between command instruments and market instruments in the Renewable Energy Directive (Directive 2009/21/EU)?

4. Critically assess the extent to which the third phase of trading under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (Directive 2003/87/EC as amended) will escape the problems experienced in the first two phases.

5. Answer EITHER (a) OR (b)
(a) Adaptation has been described as ‘the poor and derided cousin of emissions reduction’. Discuss.
OR
(b) Discuss the challenges and opportunities of adaptation policies, providing examples from EITHER the international OR the European context.

6. ‘The energy efficiency potential of buildings is an easy win for climate change mitigation, and EU law will go a long way to tapping that potential.’ Discuss.

7. Do you think that the EU legal framework for CCS is adequate to address the key challenges of deploying this technology? Why?

8. Do you think it is time to radically reassess our legal approach to climate change? Discuss in detail EITHER the international OR the EU regime.