World Powers
The United States is the largest economy and one of the wealthiest countries in the world. When compared to many other countries, it is less vulnerable to the impacts of the climate emergency, being in a good position to address its impacts. However, low-income populations, people of color and Indigenous Communities, within the United States often face disproportionate risks, because of their limited access to resources and resilience measures. The United States engages in ecologically unequal exchange with the Majority World to acquire resources and generate a monetary surplus through international trade.
The United States holds massive geopolitical influence and rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021, re-emphasizing its commitment towards climate ambitions. Over the course of history, the United States has produced more greenhouse gas emissions than any other country. Currently, it is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. Per person, its annual greenhouse gas emissions are roughly three times the global average. The transportation sector contributes the largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the United states, followed by energy and industry (EPA, 2023).
To address the climate emergency impacts, the first-ever National Climate Task Force was created in the United States in 2021, which is supporting the country in safeguarding homes against extreme temperatures; setting flood-risk reduction standards, promoting green jobs and accelerating clean energy projects.
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Rankings // Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (University of Notre Dame)
Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (The White House)
📄Global patterns of ecologically unequal exchange: Implications for sustainability in the 21st century by Christian Dorninger, Alf Hornborg, David J. Abson, Henrik von Wehrden, Anke Schaffartzik, Stefan Giljum, John-Oliver Engler, Robert L. Feller, Klaus Hubacek, Hanspeter Wieland
China is the world's second largest economy and plays a central role in international trade and commerce. It has very high exposure to flooding, tropical cyclones and their associated hazards. While generally less exposed to drought, China has recently been facing some of the deadliest heat waves for decades. The vulnerability of its communities vary according to location and access to resources.
Over the course of history, China has produced the second most greenhouse gas emissions of any country. Currently, China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. Per person, its emissions are roughly the global average. China is known as the ‘world's factory,’ and its industrial manufacturing sector is a major source of pollution, and it is worth noting that many of the products it manufactures are created to meet demand from Western countries. Industries such as steel, cement, chemicals, and petrochemicals contribute to emissions of various pollutants, including greenhouse gasses.
China has a high degree of flexibility when it comes to directing state-controlled resources to the climate crisis, raising resilience. It has pledged to promote an energy revolution and engage in global climate governance. Though China is the world’s largest consumer of coal, it is also by far the world's largest exporter of clean technologies. China has also been piloting regional carbon trading schemes to establish a carbon market and reduce emissions
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Europe is the third largest economy in the world. It is diverse, with significant variations in economic wealth and development among its countries. Countries like Germany, UK and France are rich with very high living standards, while countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Greece experience high levels of poverty. As a result, the impacts of the climate emergency are varied, so many communities, particularly low income and marginalized groups, remain highly vulnerable.
Europe provides by far the most development aid in the world. However, at the same time, like the USA the high income countries in Europe sustain their economic growth through asymmetric exchange relationships with poorer regions of the Majority World, extracting wealth and resources.
Europe is experiencing the impacts of the climate emergency through rising temperatures, more frequent heat waves, extreme weather events like floods and storms, changing precipitation patterns, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. These changes pose significant challenges to ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, human health, and infrastructure across the continent.
Over the course of history, Europe has produced a similar amount of greenhouse gas emissions to the United States. Currently, Europe is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. Per person, its emissions are roughly the global average. A landmark step taken by Europe for climate action is the European Green Deal, a comprehensive policy framework to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050.
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Climate change impacts, risks and adaptation (EU Commission)
A European Green Deal (EU Commission)
📄 Global patterns of ecologically unequal exchange: Implications for sustainability in the 21st century by Christian Dorninger, Alf Hornborg, David J. Abson, Henrik von Wehrden, Anke Schaffartzik, Stefan Giljum, John-Oliver Engler, Robert L. Feller, Klaus Hubacek, Hanspeter Wieland
Majority World is an alternative term for the Global South or Developing Countries. The term highlights the fact that the majority of humanity lives in countries across Africa, Asia, Central and South Americas, the Caribbean, and Oceania.
Over time, most greenhouse gas emissions, resources and economic wealth in the world have been accumulated by the US, Europe and China. In different ways, they have each been responsible for the colonial oppression of many other countries, affecting the ability of other regions to develop and adapt to the climate emergency. For this reason, we have chosen to make each of these 3 regions as individual players, each bearing responsibility for the climate emergency. While countries within the Majority World have many different characteristics, motivations and priorities, we have also included them as one ‘player’ in Daybreak, in order to represent those regions that have been historically oppressed and are most affected by the climate emergency, despite their disproportionately small role in driving this crisis. Despite comprising two thirds of the world's population, the Majority World emits a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. And per person, its emissions are about half the global average.
Extreme weather events, water scarcity, agricultural disruptions, sea-level rise, biodiversity loss, health risks, displacement, and limited resources for adaptation are disproportionately impacting communities in the Majority World. These impacts exacerbate economic challenges and social inequalities.
To tackle this, countries in the Majority World have forged regional partnerships to develop early warning systems (ACMAD), improve disaster preparedness (ADPC) and establish clean energy markets (REEEP). Youth initiatives like the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) are also becoming increasingly popular and effective in the Majority World. These efforts are being complemented by global financial mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund, that supports climate projects and programs in the Majority World. Many in the Majority World continue to fight for financing to make up for the centuries of extraction that have left them more vulnerable to the climate crisis. This might take the form of ‘loss and damages’ payments, or climate reparations, that can then be used for climate resilience, and develop in cleaner ways.
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