GEOG 339 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Global Commons, Industrial Revolution, 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference
Document Summary
Yes we can think of atmosphere as a global commons since: 1. Ghgs are well-mixed in the atmosphere given that their residence time is around 100 years (exception methane); and 2. The climate effects of increased concentrations of ghg are globally felt. Without regulation, a tragedy likely will occur because individuals, firms, and countries benefit from activities that emit greenhouse gasses but the costs are shared with others. Industrial countries contributing a significant fraction of the world"s greenhouse gas emissions have the most capacity to reduce emissions. Their capacity stems in large part to their economic development which was driven by cheap fossil fuels. A country"s reduction target based on a percentage reduction of today"s aggregate national emissions. An example of this approach would be that countries would agree to reduce their emissions by. X% of their national emissions of greenhouse gases (expressed in co2 equivalents) in target year.
