Comparing Emission Mitigation Effort

23 Pages Posted: 25 Jun 2015

See all articles by Joseph E. Aldy

Joseph E. Aldy

Harvard Kennedy School; National Bureau of Economic Research; Resources for the Future; Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

William A. Pizer

Duke University

Keigo Akimoto

Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

Date Written: June 23, 2015

Abstract

A natural outcome of the emerging pledge and review approach to international climate change policy is interest in comparing mitigation effort among countries. Domestic publics and stakeholders will have an interest in knowing if peer countries are undertaking (or planning to undertake) comparable effort in mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, if considered inadequate to address the risks posed by climate change, the aggregate effort will likely prompt broader interest in identifying those countries where greater effort is arguably warranted on the basis of peer comparisons. Both assessments require metrics of effort and comparisons among countries. We propose a framework for such an exercise, drawing from a set of principles for designing and implementing informative metrics. We present a template for organizing metrics on mitigation effort, for both ex-ante and ex-post review. We also provide preliminary assessments of effort along emissions, price, and cost metrics for post–2020 climate policy contributions by China, the European Union, Russia, and the United States. We close with a discussion of the role of academics and civil society in promoting transparency and facilitating the evaluation and comparison of effort.

Keywords: emission mitigation, international environmental agreements, modeling analysis, reciprocity, policy surveillance, intended nationally determined contributions

JEL Classification: Q54, Q58, F55

Suggested Citation

Aldy, Joseph E. and Pizer, William A. and Akimoto, Keigo, Comparing Emission Mitigation Effort (June 23, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2622323 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2622323

Joseph E. Aldy (Contact Author)

Harvard Kennedy School

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HOME PAGE: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/joseph-aldy

National Bureau of Economic Research

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
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Resources for the Future

79 JFK Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-496-7213 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/joseph-aldy

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) ( email )

79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

William A. Pizer

Duke University ( email )

100 Fuqua Drive
Durham, NC 27708-0204
United States

Keigo Akimoto

Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth ( email )

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