Summary
Reaching a meaningful international agreement to follow up the Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen in December 2009 is a challenging task. Major emitters have very different approaches to global climate policy and mitigation as a result of their varying levels of development and views concerning the dynamics of economic growth and the growth of emissions. The views on the historic responsibilities as well as the interpretation of the ‘common but differentiated commitments’ principle have traditionally divided some industrialised countries and the developing countries. It is important to understand the backgrounds of their positions in order to facilitate successful negotiations in Copenhagen.
The project focuses on the views of the US, Russia, Japan, China and India. The study outlines the current positions of these major emitters, their national conditions which influence their positions (economic, political, social and emissions), and explores the incentives that could encourage the countries to join the post-2012 pact.
Sponsors
Ministry of Environment of Finland: http://www.environment.fi/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland: http://www.formin.finland.fi/
Research team
Dr Anna Korppoo, FIIA
Linda Jakobson, SIPRI (formerly: FIIA)
Alexandru Luta, FIIA
Antto Vihma, Turku School of Economics
Johannes Urpelainen, Michigan University
Timeline
October 2008 – May 2009
Deliverables
- Seminar for the sponsors on the case studies on China, Russia, India and Japan, 11 February 2009
- Seminar for the sponsors on the case study on the United States, 4 May 2009
- Public seminar on the results of the project, 5 May 2009
- UPI report: Views on the Post-2012 Climate Regime: Approaches by Key Major Emitters, 5 May 2009
Mari Luomi