Carmen Bunzl - Universidad Pontificia Comillas

Chapter 2. Options for future climate change architectures 56
EU + In favour of a staged approach
Strengths and Weaknesses
It seems likely that any future regime will be staged in form; countries are
very diverse and this form of agreement would take into account national
circumstances, in line with the UNFCCC spirit. It is a general framework that
can accommodate many ideas and satisfy many demands. A staged approach
allows for gradual decision making, and is trust-building as industrialized
countries take the lead. It is compatible with Kyoto Protocol, its reporting needs
and mechanisms.
On the other hand, the concept is relatively complex, as it requires many
decisions and allows for exceptions. The critical element of the approach is that
additional countries participate early enough; there is a risk that countries enter
too late so that some long-term stabilization options are lost. Incentives for such
participation (not just thresholds for participation) have to be included in the
system.
2.1.2.2 Contraction and Convergence (C&C)
Description
Contraction and Convergence (C&C) was proposed by the Global Commons
Institute (GCI, 2005). All countries participate in this regime (element 1) with
quantified emission targets (element 3).
The emission allowances are shared as follows (element 2):
• Contraction: As a first step, a global emission path is agreed for each
future year that leads to an agreed long term stabilization level for
greenhouse gas concentrations.
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería ICAI Carmen Bunzl Boulet Junio 2008