Carmen Bunzl - Universidad Pontificia Comillas

Chapter 2. Options for future climate change architectures 53
Several authors proposed that countries participate in a future regime in
several stages (element 1, participation) with differentiated types and levels of
commitments (Blanchard et al., 2003; CAN 2003; Criqui et al. 2003; Gupta, 2003;
Blok et al., 2005; Michaelowa et al. 2005; den Elzen et al., 2006; Höhne 2006). The
current system, which consists of essentially two stages (Annex I countries with
emission reduction commitments and Non-Annex I countries with no emission
reduction commitments), is expanded to include several intermediate steps.
Each stage has its stage specific commitments (element 3, type of
commitment). An example of the types of different stages is provided in Höhne
2006:
• Stage 1 – No commitments: Countries with a low level of
development do not have climate commitments. At minimum, all
least developed countries (LDCs) would be in this stage.
• Stage 2 – Enhanced Sustainable Development: Countries with higher
level of emissions per capita commit to sustainable development
policies, in which the environmental objectives should be built into.
Such a first ‘soft’ stage would make it easier for new countries to join
the regime. Requirements could be defined, e.g. inefficient equipment
is phased out and certain standards are met for any new equipment.
• Stage 3 – Moderate absolute target: The emission level may be higher
than in the starting year, but should be below a reference scenario.
The target could also be positively binding (allowances can be sold if
the target is exceeded, but no allowances have to be bough if it is not
reached). An incentive to accept such a target would be the possibility
of participating in emissions trading.
• Stage 4 - Absolute reduction target: Countries in this stage have to
reduce absolute emissions substantially until they reach a low per
capita level. How much each country has to reduce its emissions
(element 2, stringency of reductions) can be defined in different ways,
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería ICAI Carmen Bunzl Boulet Junio 2008