Analyzing the Effectiveness of International Environmental Policies: The Case of the Kyoto Protocol

69 Pages Posted: 17 Nov 2016 Last revised: 10 Feb 2019

See all articles by Christian Almer

Christian Almer

University of Bath - Department of Economics

Ralph Winkler

University of Bern - Department of Economics; University of Bern - Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research

Date Written: November 17, 2016

Abstract

We study the effectiveness of emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol with respect to reducing CO2 emissions. Using country-level and US state-level panel data and employing the synthetic control method, we find very little evidence for an emission reduction effect for the major emitters among the Annex B countries with binding emission targets. More generally, we also show that evaluating the effectiveness of international environmental policies at the country level comes with a number of empirical challenges that may invalidate findings based on more traditional panel data approaches.

Keywords: Climate Policy, International Environmental Agreements, Kyoto Protocol, Synthetic Control Method

JEL Classification: K33, Q54

Suggested Citation

Almer, Christian and Winkler, Ralph, Analyzing the Effectiveness of International Environmental Policies: The Case of the Kyoto Protocol (November 17, 2016). Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 82: 125–151, 2017, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2871019

Christian Almer

University of Bath - Department of Economics ( email )

Claverton Down
Bath, BA2 7AY
United Kingdom

Ralph Winkler (Contact Author)

University of Bern - Department of Economics ( email )

Schanzeneckstrasse 1
Bern, 3001
Switzerland
+41 31 631 4508 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.ralph-winkler.de

University of Bern - Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research ( email )

Zähringerstrasse 25
Bern, 3012
Switzerland

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