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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.
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.
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
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)
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
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
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
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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