Sharing Global CO2 Emission Reductions Among One Billion High Emitters
Monday, September 28, 2009
On September 14, Professor Robert Socolow from Princeton University and co-authors Shoibal Chakravarty, Massimo Tavoni, Ananth Chikkatur and Heleen De Coninck presented findings from their recently published paper -“Sharing Global CO2 Emission Reductions among One Billion High Emitters”- at an ESMAP and World Bank Institute hosted event. Amarquaye Armar, Program Manager for ESMAP commented on the “…overwhelming response that provides a strong indication of the interest in the concepts explored in this recent paper…” Over 100 people from the World Bank Group and external organizations attended.
On behalf of the authors, Robert Socolow presented a new way of sharing CO2 emissions, combining the South's demand for fairness-driven allocation and the North's demand for inclusivity. The authors explored the concept of ‘fairness’ in relation to equal per cumulative per capita CO2 emissions to 2100 based on three starting points – 1850, 1950 and 1990 – each accounting for varying degrees of historic emissions.
They concluded by proposing a fairness rule where "common but differentiated responsibilities" refers to individuals rather than nations. High CO2 emitters are counted in the same manner, wherever they live, and for accounting purposes a ceiling is placed on individual emissions matched to any globally desired emissions reduction. Individual capped emissions collectively determine national targets. In developing countries, an individual emissions floor is set, providing the poor with a pass to meet Millennium Development Goals with neutrality toward fossil fuels (use them if they're cheaper). The authors show this adds negligible additional work to the job of climate mitigation.
The authors stressed their work is intended to get people thinking, providing a simple picture of CO2 allocations that is not intended to be overly directive. Professor Robert Socolow urged the audience to care about the collective future, concluding “What has seemed too hard becomes simply what must be done” to stabilize and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
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