Transcript Harald Dovland

Approaches for Future
International Co-operation
AIXG. 22 March 2005
Harald Dovland
Ministry of Environment, Norway
Goals for a post-2012 regime
• Broader participation (with some type of emission
commitment) than in the Kyoto Protocol.
o US
o Some developing countries
• Keep the good elements of Kyoto:
o Differentiation
o Flexibility (“all”gases, multiyear period, mechanisms).
o Reporting and review systems.
•
Include “sinks”. But how?
Goals for a post-2012 regime
• Broader participation (with some type of emission
commitment) than in the Kyoto Protocol.
o US
o Some developing countries
• Keep the good elements of Kyoto:
o Differentiation
o Flexibility (“all”gases, multiyear period, mechanisms).
o Reporting and review systems.
•
Include “sinks”. But how? (AIXG)
Goals for a post-2012 regime (II)
• Be perceived as fair by governments and private
sector (level playing field, competitiveness,
leakage).
• Not be perceived to cap economic growth in
developing countries.
• Simple, at least not overly complicated (need to
monitor compliance).
• Include:
– Co-operation on adaptation
– Strengthened co-operation on technology research,
development and deployment
Type of commitment after 2012
• Continue the Kyoto-type of commitment (emission
ceiling relative to a base year)?
• Carbon intensity target (emission per unit GDP)?
• Development towards equal per capita emissions?
• Total GHG-emissions or selected sectors?
• Technology standards [or performance standards],
possibly for selected sectors?
• Research and development?
• Multistage, different types of commitment for
different levels of development?
Q 1
• What options for international co-operation
are most conducive to domestic action?
• Economic instruments:
• Green taxes
• Emission trading
• Standards (technical, performance, ..), but
this is not a cost-effective solution.
Q 1
• What options for international co-operation
are most conducive to domestic action?
• Economic instruments:
• Green taxes
• Emission trading
• Standards (technical, performance, ..), but
this is not a cost-effective solution. (AIXG?)
Q2
• Could an agreement containing different approaches
(emission targets, technology development and
diffusion, policies and measures) be designed in
such a way so as to encourage participation, provide
flexibility, minimise costs and ensure that all
countries pursuing a particular approach have a
relatively similar burden and environmental
outcome?
• Everything is possible, but sometimes things get too
complicated?
Q 2 Multi-protocol
• Emissions caps (total or selected sector(s)) for all or
for most developed countries
• Adaptation
• Technology - research, development and
deployment
• Should countries sign up to all elements? Or pick
the elements they like?
• If pick and chose; it seems difficult to ensure level
playing field? And designing a fair protocol will be a
significant challenge.
Q 2 Multi-protocol
• Emissions caps (total or selected sector(s)) for all or
for most developed countries
• Adaptation
• Technology - research, development and
deployment
• Should countries sign up to all elements? Or pick
the elements they like? (AIXG)
• If pick and chose; it seems difficult to ensure level
playing field? And designing a fair protocol will be a
significant challenge. (AIXG)
Q3
• Which sectors are the most appropriate for
international discussions? Can a sectoral
approach be integrated with other
approaches in a practical way?
Q 3. Sectors
• Transport - growing in most countries.
o Relatively few car producers
o Cooperation between governments to put pressure on
producers
• Electricity – most important sector globally.
o Increased use of renewable energy.
o Carbon capture and storage a coming technical option, at
least for some parts of the world.
• Selected industries
o Cement?
o Steel?
Q 3. Sectors
• Transport - growing in most countries. (AIXG?)
o Relatively few car producers
o Cooperation between governments to put pressure on
producers
• Electricity – most important sector globally. (AIXG)
o Increased use of renewable energy.
o Carbon capture and storage a coming technical option, at
least for some parts of the world.
• Selected industries
o Cement?
o Steel?
Q 3. Integration
• Depends on how sectoral commitments are
formulated.
o If selected sectors are the same for all countries, there
should be small practical problems (but may not deliver
large reductions).
o Large sectors in some countries and total emissions in
other countries should be manageable?
o Picking different sectors in different countries likely to
cause difficulties (will not be a level playing field)?
Q 3. Integration
• Depends on how sectoral commitments are
formulated. (AIXG)
o If selected sectors are the same for all countries, there
should be small practical problems (but may not deliver
large reductions).
o Large sectors in some countries and total emissions in
other countries should be manageable?
o Picking different sectors in different countries likely to
cause difficulties (will not be a level playing field)?
Long term solution
• How can we achieve a 50-60-70% reduction
in industrialised countries in 2050?
o Changing life-style?
o Technology change:
– Make use of existing low-carbon technologies, including
renewable energy.
– Carbon sequestration and storage
– Research and development.
– Technology diffusion/Technology transfer.