Carmen Bunzl - Universidad Pontificia Comillas

Chapter 2. Options for future climate change architectures 37
1 Introduction
1.1 Introduction
It is broadly recognized that the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is only the first step on
addressing human induced climate change. In order to reach the ultimate
objective of the UNFCCC – “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in
the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system” (UNFCCC 1992) – further action to tackle
climate change has to be taken.
Several studies have analyzed the broad range of possible future climate
regimes. Among them, the ones that appear to be most useful are Aldy, 2003;
Höhne et al., 2003; Kameyama, 2004; Bodansky, 2004; Blok et al., 2005; Philibert,
2005; Aldy and Stavins, 2007; Gupta et al., 2007; Höhne et al., 2006; Höhne et al.,
2007; Kameyama, 2007.
The scope of this chapter includes the following themes:
• Section 1: As a necessary part of this introduction, the main elements
(Section 1.2) and evaluation criteria (Section 1.3) of a future international
climate change agreement are identified.
• Section 2: Approaches for a future international climate change regime
are discussed.
Section 2.1 provides a description and qualitative assessment of
approaches based on national emission targets and international
emissions trading, such as the existing Kyoto system. The selected
approaches include: Multistage, Contraction an Convergence (C&C),
Common but Differentiated Convergence (CDC), Global Tryptich, and
Historical Responsibility.
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería ICAI Carmen Bunzl Boulet Junio 2008