An Equity Hurdle in International Climate Negotiations

Abstract

Parties to the U.N. climate negotiations are now engaged in a three-year process to produce a new comprehensive global climate agreement. This agreement should attempt to satisfy competing demands from developed and developing countries for an equitable assignment of responsibilities for mitigating greenhouse gases. It should also be sensitive to national regulatory and legal circumstances. Unfortunately, the current basis for U.S. regulation of greenhouse gases is at odds with some approaches other nations take to the equitable reduction of emissions. This difference may make it difficult for the U.S. both to embrace a global treaty and to preserve its ability to cut its own emissions.