Protectionism under a Green Label: Analysis in Light of the Waxman-Markey Climate Change Bill of 2009
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (4/2010)
This research article analyzes and evaluates the key provisions of the Waxman-Markey Climate Change Bill, which was introduced to establish an aggressive cap-and-trade programme aimed at promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reducing global warming pollution. However, the bill became controversial and was opposed by various countries as the provisions of the bill are against rules of the WTO. Developing countries are viewing it as an attempt to extra-territorially enforce carbon emission standards on their products and production processes, even when the latter do not have the financial capacity nor technology to effectively adopt and comply with such standards. The bill was proposed while the entire world was facing a financial crisis and the protectionism measures in the bill may further deepen the crisis. The paper ends with the conclusion that the present bill is insufficient as to control of carbon emissions, given its nature, until 2026 and it creates a volatile carbon market dominated by short-term financial gain incentives.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (4/2010)
This research article analyzes and evaluates the key provisions of the Waxman-Markey Climate Change Bill, which was introduced to establish an aggressive cap-and-trade programme aimed at promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reducing global warming pollution. However, the bill became controversial and was opposed by various countries as the provisions of the bill are against rules of the WTO. Developing countries are viewing it as an attempt to extra-territorially enforce carbon emission standards on their products and production processes, even when the latter do not have the financial capacity nor technology to effectively adopt and comply with such standards. The bill was proposed while the entire world was facing a financial crisis and the protectionism measures in the bill may further deepen the crisis. The paper ends with the conclusion that the present bill is insufficient as to control of carbon emissions, given its nature, until 2026 and it creates a volatile carbon market dominated by short-term financial gain incentives.
Proposals on Carbon-related Border Adjustments: Prospects for WTO Compliance
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (4/2010)
Recently the practice of border adjustment in international trade has attracted much interest in the context of climate change. The risk of carbon leakage, the competitive disadvantage of industries in countries introducing a cap on emissions and the desire to induce large greenhouse gases emitting countries to join international climate change mitigation actions are the main reasons for considering import restrictions on products with high carbon footprint originating from uncapped nations.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (4/2010)
Recently the practice of border adjustment in international trade has attracted much interest in the context of climate change. The risk of carbon leakage, the competitive disadvantage of industries in countries introducing a cap on emissions and the desire to induce large greenhouse gases emitting countries to join international climate change mitigation actions are the main reasons for considering import restrictions on products with high carbon footprint originating from uncapped nations.
Sector No Lose Targets in the Context of a Post-2012 Climate Agreement
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (4/2010)
This article analyzes the issues that must be addressed to develop a viable sector no lose target option in the context of a post-2012 international climate regime. It will explain the concept and the challenges that need to be overcome for sector no lose targets to make a contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change objective of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. These challenges include the determination of baselines and crediting targets, measuring, reporting and verification of emissions, implementation of policy measures at the domestic level, engaging the private sector, dealing with the uncertainty of supply of and demand for carbon credits and the legal and institutional framework required to implement sector no lose targets.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (4/2010)
This article analyzes the issues that must be addressed to develop a viable sector no lose target option in the context of a post-2012 international climate regime. It will explain the concept and the challenges that need to be overcome for sector no lose targets to make a contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change objective of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. These challenges include the determination of baselines and crediting targets, measuring, reporting and verification of emissions, implementation of policy measures at the domestic level, engaging the private sector, dealing with the uncertainty of supply of and demand for carbon credits and the legal and institutional framework required to implement sector no lose targets.
In the REDD: A Conservative Approach to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
In December 2009, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will meet in Copenhagen to discuss the international regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions after the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. One of the key questions is whether, and if so, how, to include Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) in developing countries as an internationally regulated activity.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
In December 2009, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will meet in Copenhagen to discuss the international regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions after the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. One of the key questions is whether, and if so, how, to include Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) in developing countries as an internationally regulated activity.
Identifying Countries that are Particularly Vulnerable to the Adverse Effects of Climate Change: An Academic or a Political Challenge?
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commits developed countries “to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects” (Article 4.4). Ever since the Convention was agreed in 1992, the question has arisen of what it means to be “particularly vulnerable”, and how it is decided which countries fall into this category.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commits developed countries “to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects” (Article 4.4). Ever since the Convention was agreed in 1992, the question has arisen of what it means to be “particularly vulnerable”, and how it is decided which countries fall into this category.
Institutional Mechanisms to Address the AAU Reserves in a Post-2012 Agreement
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and some other countries will have large surpluses of Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) in the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012). This is likely to emerge as one of the central challenges during the post-2012 negotiations. This article proposes a mechanism for addressing the issue through an International AAU Reserve Fund that would facilitate acceptance of more stringent emission reduction commitments by the developed countries post-2012 based on the AAUs reserve accumulated pre-2012.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and some other countries will have large surpluses of Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) in the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012). This is likely to emerge as one of the central challenges during the post-2012 negotiations. This article proposes a mechanism for addressing the issue through an International AAU Reserve Fund that would facilitate acceptance of more stringent emission reduction commitments by the developed countries post-2012 based on the AAUs reserve accumulated pre-2012.
The Carbon Market and the Post-2012 Climate Regime: Key Legal Scenarios
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
Negotiations on the post-2012 climate regime under the UNFCCC are entering a crucial phase. They are scheduled to be completed at COP 15 in Copenhagen in December 2009. The outcome will have important consequences for the carbon market. The scope and ambitiousness of the agreement on mitigation IN THE post-2012 PERIOD will be crucial for the international demand and supply of credits, and the post-2012 legal framework will determine the general conditions for transactions under the UNFCCC REGIME.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
Negotiations on the post-2012 climate regime under the UNFCCC are entering a crucial phase. They are scheduled to be completed at COP 15 in Copenhagen in December 2009. The outcome will have important consequences for the carbon market. The scope and ambitiousness of the agreement on mitigation IN THE post-2012 PERIOD will be crucial for the international demand and supply of credits, and the post-2012 legal framework will determine the general conditions for transactions under the UNFCCC REGIME.
Climate Change, Justice, and Clean Development – A Review of the Copenhagen Negotiating Draft
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
Global climate protection will be at the center of negotiations during the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009. It is very likely that climate change is raising challenges for mankind which have never existed in these dimensions before. In view of the sheer enormity of these challenges, we might also have to consider solutions which have previously never existed.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
Global climate protection will be at the center of negotiations during the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009. It is very likely that climate change is raising challenges for mankind which have never existed in these dimensions before. In view of the sheer enormity of these challenges, we might also have to consider solutions which have previously never existed.
Stakeholder-based Scenarios for Post-2012 Climate Policy: A Participatory Approach
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
Beginning in the early 1970s, the application of scenario analysis to environmental issues has been a well-established field. Since then, environmental scenario analysis has been used to examine many different scales and types of environmental problems, ranging from global sustainability to specific issues such as changes in emissions, air quality, or land cover in a specific region. Environmental scenarios provide an interdisciplinary framework for analyzing complex environmental problems and envisioning solutions for these problems by, for example, establishing a link between environmental science and policy.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
Beginning in the early 1970s, the application of scenario analysis to environmental issues has been a well-established field. Since then, environmental scenario analysis has been used to examine many different scales and types of environmental problems, ranging from global sustainability to specific issues such as changes in emissions, air quality, or land cover in a specific region. Environmental scenarios provide an interdisciplinary framework for analyzing complex environmental problems and envisioning solutions for these problems by, for example, establishing a link between environmental science and policy.
One, Two or One and a Half Protocols? An Assessment of Suggested Options for the Legal Form of the Post-2012 Climate Regime
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
The current international climate regime basically consists of two treaties: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted in 1992, which has nearly universal membership, and the Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1997. The latter treaty obliges developed states listed in Annex I of the UNFCCC to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by the amount inscribed in Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol. However, it only provides for a first commitment period lasting from 2008 to 2012. Thus, there is an urgent need to establish new rules ensuring further emission reductions after 2012.
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (10/2009)
The current international climate regime basically consists of two treaties: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted in 1992, which has nearly universal membership, and the Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1997. The latter treaty obliges developed states listed in Annex I of the UNFCCC to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by the amount inscribed in Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol. However, it only provides for a first commitment period lasting from 2008 to 2012. Thus, there is an urgent need to establish new rules ensuring further emission reductions after 2012.
