Comparing Emissions Mitigation Efforts Across Countries

20 Pages Posted: 2 Dec 2015

See all articles by William A. Pizer

William A. Pizer

Duke University

Joseph E. Aldy

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

Keigo Akimoto

Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth

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Date Written: November 17, 2015

Abstract

A natural outcome of the emerging pledge and review approach to international climate change policy is the interest in comparing mitigation efforts among countries. Domestic publics and stakeholders will have an interest in knowing if “comparable” or “peer” countries are undertaking (or planning to undertake) “comparable” effort in mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, if the aggregate effort is considered inadequate in addressing the risks posed by climate change, then this will likely prompt interest in identifying opportunities for greater effort by individual countries – an assessment that requires metrics of effort and comparisons among countries. We propose a framework for comparing mitigation effort, 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 of effort. We also provide preliminary assessments of effort along emissions, price, and cost metrics for post-2020 climate policy contributions by China, the European Union, 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: climate change, emissions mitigation, climate pledges, evaluation, climate change policy

JEL Classification: Q54, Q3, Q52

Suggested Citation

Pizer, William A. and Aldy, Joseph E. and Akimoto, Keigo, Comparing Emissions Mitigation Efforts Across Countries (November 17, 2015). Center for Global Development Working Paper No. 419, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2697250 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2697250

William A. Pizer (Contact Author)

Duke University ( email )

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Joseph E. Aldy

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

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Resources for the Future

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Cambridge, MA 02138
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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

Keigo Akimoto

Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth ( email )

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