Carmen Bunzl - Universidad Pontificia Comillas

Chapter 2. Options for future climate change architectures 103
Tryptich approach requires relatively strict emission limits for the electricity
sector – China is strongly dependant to coal, its emissions per kWh electricity
are among the highest in the world – therefore relatively stringent reductions
for China. (Höhne e al., 2007b).
China takes a proactive attitude towards the global efforts for climate change
control. However, it reiterates that as a developing country, it should focus on
economic development and poverty alleviation and not have binding emission
reduction commitments. Developed countries, who are responsible for all the
emissions to date and still have much higher per capita emissions, should take
the lead. Developing countries should be able to increase their emission to meet
their development needs.
China may only be convinced to take further action if the agreement is seen
not to cap its economic growth or being economically beneficial for China.
Some possible options are: increased participation in the CDM (could generate
revenues), no-lose targets (allowances could be sold if targets are overachieved,
but none would have to be bought if targets are not reached), or rate based
targets (e.g. as a function of kWh or tonne of steel produced, which could take
away the fear of capping economic growth).
3.2.2.3 USA
As the largest emitter with very high emissions per capita and very high
GDP per capita, USA would need to reduce its emissions substantially under all
approaches. Convergence of emissions per capita (C&C and CDC) would be
demanding because of the current high levels – among the highest in the world.
The Tryptich approach would also be demanding because of these and the
relatively low efficiency compared to other Annex I countries; the electricity
sector is also very significant for the USA. As for most Annex I countries, the
Multistage approach would lead to the most stringent reduction efforts to
compensate that most developing countries participate late in time (Höhne et
al., 2007b).
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería ICAI Carmen Bunzl Boulet Junio 2008