Evaluating Possibilities for an International Climate International Change Regime - Spring

Advisor: Kathleen Callahan

This report, prepared for the Environmental Defense Fund, analyzes the stalemate in international climate negotiations following the 2009 Copenhagen Summit (COP 15). The central challenge is that greenhouse gas emissions are inextricably linked to sensitive issues of economic development, equity, and consumption, making a unanimous global agreement through the UNFCCC difficult to achieve.

To bypass this stagnation, the report suggests shifting from a "grand bargain" approach to issue-specific, smaller-scale negotiations that engage key stakeholders in more efficient forums:

• Fragmented Negotiations: Instead of one massive treaty, specific goals like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) could be managed by the Major Economies Forum, while trade and intellectual property issues could be handled by the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• Bilateral Leadership: Strengthening the U.S.-China relationship is paramount. By focusing on mutually beneficial clean energy goals through the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the world's two largest emitters can create a foundation for broader multilateral success.
• Strategic Financing: To engage developing nations, the report emphasizes using existing mechanisms to mobilize "fast-start" funding. It suggests that public commitments should be used to leverage significantly larger private-sector investments.

Ultimately, the report argues that while the UN provides necessary legitimacy, efficiency must become the priority. By breaking climate change into manageable components, the international community can achieve the immediate emissions reductions that a single, unanimous global treaty has so far failed to deliver.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone Workshop.