For a country of your choice:
Country fact file (Germany’s carbon emissions & climate emergency)
I. Describe how the chosen country’s carbon emissions have changed since about 1990, identify sectoral variation, and characterise key climate and energy policies that may underlie these trends;
2. Based on these empirical trends, assess the chosen country’s response to the climate emergency by analysing the country’s official Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) submission to the UNFCCC
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Germany’s Carbon Emissions and Response to the Climate Emergency
Introduction
Germany, known for its strong industrial base and commitment to renewable energy, has been a significant player in global efforts to address climate change. This essay will explore how Germany’s carbon emissions have changed since around 1990, identify sectoral variations, and characterize key climate and energy policies that may have influenced these trends. Additionally, it will assess Germany’s response to the climate emergency by analyzing the country’s official Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Changing Carbon Emissions and Sectoral Variations
Since around 1990, Germany has made notable progress in reducing its carbon emissions. The reunification of East and West Germany in that period led to increased industrial activity and subsequently higher emissions. However, the country has implemented various policies and initiatives to combat climate change, resulting in significant reductions.
Electricity Generation: One of the most significant contributors to Germany’s carbon emissions is electricity generation. Historically, coal has been a dominant source of energy, but there has been a shift towards renewable sources. Since the 1990s, Germany has increased its share of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power. This transition has helped decrease emissions from electricity generation.
Transportation: The transportation sector is another major source of carbon emissions in Germany. While there have been improvements in fuel efficiency and emission standards for vehicles, the overall reduction in emissions from transportation has been relatively modest. This is primarily due to an increase in road traffic and a lack of significant policy measures to promote sustainable transportation alternatives.
Industry: Germany’s industrial sector has shown a gradual decline in emissions over the years, largely driven by improvements in energy efficiency and emission reduction technologies. However, certain energy-intensive industries, such as steel and chemicals, still contribute significantly to the country’s carbon emissions.
Key Climate and Energy Policies
Germany has implemented several key climate and energy policies that have influenced its carbon emission trends:
Renewable Energy Expansion: The Renewable Energy Act (EEG) enacted in 2000 provided incentives for renewable energy production, leading to a rapid expansion of wind and solar power. Feed-in tariffs ensured a fixed payment for renewable energy producers, encouraging investment in these technologies.
Energy Efficiency: Germany has focused on improving energy efficiency across various sectors through initiatives such as the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP). These efforts aim to reduce energy consumption and associated emissions through measures like building insulation, efficient appliances, and industrial process optimization.
Emissions Trading: Germany participates in the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which sets a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from certain industries. This market-based approach encourages emission reductions by allocating allowances that can be traded among companies.
Coal Phase-Out: In 2020, Germany announced plans to phase out coal power plants by 2038 at the latest. This commitment aims to reduce carbon emissions from the electricity generation sector further.
Assessment of Germany’s Response to the Climate Emergency
Germany’s response to the climate emergency can be assessed by analyzing its official Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) submission to the UNFCCC:
Ambitious Targets: Germany’s NDC sets ambitious targets for greenhouse gas reductions. It aims to achieve a 55% reduction in emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2030.
Renewable Energy Expansion: The NDC emphasizes a continued expansion of renewable energy sources, aiming for renewables to account for at least 65% of electricity consumption by 2030.
Transportation Sector: Germany acknowledges the need for substantial emissions reductions in the transportation sector. The NDC highlights measures such as promoting electric mobility, expanding charging infrastructure, and incentivizing public transport usage.
International Cooperation: Germany recognizes the global nature of the climate crisis and emphasizes the importance of international cooperation. It pledges support for developing countries through financial assistance, technology transfer, and capacity building.
Germany’s NDC submission demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing the climate emergency through ambitious targets, continued renewable energy expansion, and a focus on international cooperation.
Conclusion
Germany has made substantial progress in reducing carbon emissions since around 1990 through various policies and initiatives. While there have been positive developments in renewable energy expansion and industry emission reductions, challenges remain in sectors such as transportation. Germany’s response to the climate emergency, as outlined in its NDC submission, reflects ambitious targets, continued emphasis on renewable energy expansion, and a commitment to international cooperation. Further efforts are required to accelerate emission reductions across all sectors and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
References:
BMU – Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (2020). Climate Action Plan 2050. Retrieved from: https://www.bmu.de/en/publication/climate-action-plan-2050/
BMU – Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (2021). Germany’s Long-Term Strategy under the Paris Agreement. Retrieved from: https://www.bmu.de/en/publication/germanys-long-term-strategy-under-the-paris-agreement/
Federal Republic of Germany (2016). Intended Nationally Determined Contribution. Retrieved from: https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/ndcstaging/PublishedDocuments/Germany%20First/Germany_INDC_10-14-2016.pdf
German Environment Agency (2020). Trends in greenhouse gas emissions in Germany 1990–2018. Retrieved from: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/4210/publikationen/2020-07-14_trends_in_greenhouse_gas_emissions_in_germany_1990-2018.pdf
