Environment Archives



Editor's Inbox  |  March 2, 2007 12:50 PM

Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change poses unique challenges to U.S. national security and interests. Yet current approaches and methods for understanding climate change and its impact fall short in their efforts to help us anticipate and prepare for these eventualities. This white paper is intended to help imagine potential impacts of climate change and the develop alternative analytical approaches for understanding climate change disruptions.

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Guest Analysis  |  April 19, 2007 9:47 AM

Sea Change in the Politics of Climate

By Kelly Sims Gallagher and John P. Holdren

Last weekend, more than 1,400 public rallies were held all across America -- in churches, community centers, schools, town halls, parks, on tops of mountains and glaciers, and even under water in the Florida Keys -- urging Congress to “Step It Up” and commit to an 80% reduction in U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 This demonstration of public support for real action against the causes of global climatic disruption was part of a cresting wave of change in the politics of the climate issue in this country.

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 |  December 17, 2007 9:19 AM

For Fairness, Use Formulas

A CLIMATE AGREEMENT THAT WORKS: SIX PROPOSALS
1) For Fairness, Use Formulas Use a mathematical formula -- not negotiations about targets -- to set binding emissions standards for each country based on factors like historical & current emissions, GDP, and population.

Jeffrey Frankel, Harvard University

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 |  December 17, 2007 9:28 AM

Strengthen Kyoto

A CLIMATE AGREEMENT THAT WORKS: SIX PROPOSALS
2) Strengthen Kyoto: Expand the idea of binding, country-specific emissions targets that let developing countries “graduate” to stricter standards as their economies develop.

Axel Michaelowa, Perspectives Climate Change (Germany)

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 |  December 17, 2007 9:36 AM

Create Climate Clubs

A CLIMATE AGREEMENT THAT WORKS: SIX PROPOSALS
3) Create ‘Climate Clubs’ : Only the major-player countries need to negotiate, in small regional groups, and meeting their goals through emissions trading.

David G. Victor, Stanford University

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 |  December 17, 2007 9:41 AM

Let Countries Handle It

A CLIMATE AGREEMENT THAT WORKS: SIX PROPOSALS
4) Let Countries Handle It: Allow domestic (but not international) emissions trading, and let countries set their own national limits on emissions.

Warwick J. McKibbin, Australian National University and Peter J. Wilcoxen, Syracuse University

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 |  December 17, 2007 9:48 AM

Be Realistic

A CLIMATE AGREEMENT THAT WORKS: SIX PROPOSALS
6) Be Realistic: Ask countries to pledge what they can with strong domestic support, then rely on public shaming to keep them on track.

William A. Pizer, Resources for the Future

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 |  December 17, 2007 10:45 AM

Forging a Climate Agreement That Works

By Robert N. Stavins and Joseph Aldy, Harvard University and Resources for the Future

Top climate negotiators from more than 180 countries convened in Bali, Indonesia last week to address one of the most pressing issues of our time: forging an international agreement on climate change. The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol -- the governing agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gases -- expires in 2012.

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PostGlobal is an interactive conversation on global issues moderated by Newsweek International Editor Fareed Zakaria and David Ignatius of The Washington Post. It is produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com, as is On Faith, a conversation on religion. Please send your comments, questions and suggestions for PostGlobal to Lauren Keane, its editor and producer.