Assessment of Net Mitigation in the Context of International Greenhouse Gas Emissions Control Mechanisms

Strand, Jon

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: EMISSION ALLOWANCES;    ALLOWANCE;    EMISSIONS REDUCTION;    ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS;    POWER PLANTS;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7594
RP-ID  :  WPS7594

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper discusses the scope formarket mechanisms, already established for greenhouse gasmitigation in Annex 1 countries that ratified the KyotoProtocol, for implementing "net mitigation,"defined here as mitigation beyond Annex 1 countries'formal mitigation requirements under the Kyoto Protocol.Such market mechanisms could be useful for establishing andextending greenhouse gas mitigation targets also under theParis Agreement from December 2015. Net mitigation isconsidered in two possible forms: as a "net atmosphericbenefit," or as an “own contribution” by offset hostcountries. A main conclusion is that a “net atmosphericbenefit” is possible at least in the short run, bestimplemented via stricter baselines against which offsets arecredited; but it can also take the form of offsetdiscounting whereby offset buyers are credited fewercredits. The latter, although generally inefficient, can bea second-best response to certain imperfections in theoffset market, which are discussed in the paper. There isless merit for claiming that "own contributions"can lead to additional mitigation under existing mechanisms.