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Climate change has considerably dominated science-policy dialogue, public debate, and subsequently environmental policies since the three "Rio Conventions" were born. This has led to practically independent courses of action of climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation actions, neglecting potential conflicts among outcomes and with missed opportunities for synergistic measures. Transformative governance principles have been proposed to overcome these limitations. Using a transformative governance lens, we use the case of the Norwegian "Climate Cure 2030" for the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector to, first, illustrate the mechanisms that have led to the choice of climate mitigation measures; second, to analyze the potential consequences of these measures on biodiversity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and, third, to evaluate alternative measures with potential positive outcomes for biodiversity and GHG emissions/removals. We point to some mechanisms that could support the implementation of these positive actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a decomposition and emissions matrix is developed to identify the roles (giver or taker) played by the sectors in the greenhouse gas emissions for the economy of Beijing in China. Our results indicate that services were the most important emitter if we consider the total (direct and indirect) emissions. In addition to Construction, Scientific studies and technical services and Finance sectors of services were the largest takers. They have a large role in boosting greenhouse gas emissions throughout the economy of Beijing. As the basis and supporter of production activities, the electricity production and the transportation sectors were the greatest givers. More emphasis should be placed on using clean energy and carbon capture and storage technologies to reduce emissions within these sectors. Based on the roles played by these sectors in greenhouse gas emissions, some policy implications were proposed for energy utilization and carbon emissions trading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of climate compatible development (CCD) is increasingly employed by donors and policy makers seeking 'triple-wins' for development, adaptation and mitigation. While CCD rhetoric is becoming more widespread, analyses drawing on empirical cases that present triple-wins are sorely lacking. We address this knowledge gap. Drawing on examples in rural sub-Saharan Africa, we provide the first glimpse into how projects that demonstrate triple-win potential are framed and presented within the scientific literature. We identify that development projects are still commonly evaluated in terms of adaptation or mitigation benefits. Few are framed according to their benefits across all three dimensions. Consequently, where triple-wins are occurring, they are likely to be under-reported. This has important implications, which underestimates the co-benefits that projects can deliver. A more robust academic evidence base for the delivery of triple-wins is necessary to encourage continued donor investment in activities offering the potential to deliver CCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper re-examines the formation of International Environmental Agreements (IEAs) modelled as a two-stage non-cooperative game when countries' strategies to control pollution are complementary. This new assumption relying on empirical and theoretical evidences means that reinforcement effects do exist between countries' strategies when polluting or abating. From a deliberately conventional model the results established analytically strongly contrast with those in the literature on IEAs. We find that the unique stable agreement can consist in half countries involved in the negotiation; we demonstrate that the environmental impact of such cooperation is almost total: it tends toward the one of the full cooperative solution. Even if the incentives to free-ride are less strong, we do not observe the formation of the 'grand' coalition: not all the countries sign the agreement. We also explain why the level of cooperation is decreasing with the perception countries have of the seriousness of the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines bilateral cooperation between developed countries (home country) and developing countries (host country) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to enhance carbon dioxide sinks. With the home-host country pair as the unit of analysis, our logistic regression model examines 158 Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ) investment projects from 1993 until 2002 across 2541 country-pairs. Because the marginal costs of reducing emissions may be lower in developing countries, the AIJ projects served as a policy laboratory to assess whether such investments might be advantageous to both countries in the event future regimes allowed emission credits from such bilateral projects. Instead of investing in home countries where maximum pollution reductions (or carbon sequestration) might be possible, home countries invest in locations where they can conduct their policy experiments at low transaction costs. Prior trade and aid relationships were used as a proxy. Regarding energy projects, location decisions are driven by home countries’ desire to reduce air pollution that they receive from abroad. Geography – proximity of a host country to a home country – in interaction with host country's coal production, is a very important driver of location decision in AIJ energy sector projects. Location of sequestration projects is impacted by the host country's potential for avoiding deforestation as well as by previous aid and trade patterns between a home and a host country. Proximity is not important in this case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the collaborative efforts of the governments and markets in addressing the climate change issue, and the move of investors and financiers of allocating more investments to low-carbon activities. Topics covered include the capacity of private finance to provide funding for shifting the world to low-carbon economy, the government policies involving carbon pricing, and details relating to the low-carbon economy financing process.

Land use and management activities have a substantial impact on carbon stocks and associated greenhouse gas emissions and removals. However, it is challenging to discriminate between anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic sources and sinks from land. To address this problem, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change developed a managed land proxy to determine which lands are contributing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and removals. Governments report all emissions and removals from managed land to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change based on this proxy, and policy interventions to reduce emissions from land use are expected to focus on managed lands. Our objective was to review the use of the managed land proxy, and summarize the criteria that governments have applied to classify land as managed and unmanaged. We found that the large majority of governments are not reporting on their application of the managed land proxy. Among the governments that do provide information, most have assigned all area in specific land uses as managed, while designating all remaining lands as unmanaged. This designation as managed land is intuitive for croplands and settlements, which would not exist without management interventions, but a portion of forest land, grassland, and wetlands may not be managed in a country. Consequently, Brazil, Canada and the United States have taken the concept further and delineated managed and unmanaged forest land, grassland and wetlands, using additional criteria such as functional use of the land and accessibility of the land to anthropogenic activity. The managed land proxy is imperfect because reported emissions from any area can include non-anthropogenic sources, such as natural disturbances. However, the managed land proxy does make reporting of GHG emissions and removals from land use more tractable and comparable by excluding fluxes from areas that are not directly influenced by anthropogenic activity. Moreover, application of the managed land proxy can be improved by incorporating additional criteria that allow for further discrimination between managed and unmanaged land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article critically discusses the views expressed in the Nicholas Stern Report. The article questions the valuation methods to estimate the reduction of greenhouse gases by the year 2050. The article also present differing views from scientists on how the present generation should value the future generation's welfare. The article concludes with the comment by economist Ottmar Edinhofer at the Postsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research that the focus should be on reducing emissions.

Discusses a study in the April 5, 2001 issue of 'Nature' magazine which brings economics into consideration in prescribing limits on greenhouse gas emissions by use of a model that integrates physical and economic systems. Focus on tradeoffs, the principle that a nation can emit more of one gas and less of another, of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide; How this model differs from the global warming potential (GWP) model used in the Kyoto Protocol of 1997; Cost-effectiveness logic used; Implications for climate policy.

Examines issues to be discussed at the international meeting on greenhouse gas emissions in Kyoto, Japan, in December, 1997. Conflict between United States interests and the rest of the world; Controversy with US position; All countries acting in self-interest; Role of cost-benefit analysis; Development of US position; Role of Clinton Administration; The Clinton plan.

Examines the role of the Group of 77 developing countries in the upcoming international congress on greenhouse gas emissions, Kyoto, Japan, in December, 1997. Their opposition to the United States position; Why they are important; Per capita-based solution, with its opponents and supporters; Roles of India and China; Idea of equity-based distribution of responsibility for emissions.

The article focuses on the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that focuses on impacts of climate change and mentions that the report suggests for policy and technological changes for the stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse-gas concentrations. It mentions that climate experts and policy analysts find the report disappointing and presents views of several climate and climate-policy experts including Glen Peters, Steve Rayner and Robert Stavins.

The article shares the author's insights on the need of scientists to have a better Earth-monitoring tool to see whether climate policies are working. It suggests that any new international climate agreement should provide a much-enhanced carbon monitoring infrastructure to examine its effectiveness. Moreover, it points out that one key element will be satellite observations that offer a large-scale mapping of greenhouse-gas emissions and land-cover changes.

Focuses on the response of United States climate scientists to U.S. President George W. Bush's decision to abandon the Kyoto Protocol for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. How the scientists hope that Bush will act on climate change once he has appointed key officials; Comments of scientists and politicians.