International Options for a Post-2012 Climate Regime

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The international community will meet at COP 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009 to decide on an agreed outcome to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) beyond 2012, the end of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The new regime will need to encourage deep reductions in the release of greenhouse gases to prevent an increase in the Earth's average temperature that will result in serious negative impacts on ecosystems and human well-being. At the same time, it will need to ensure continued economic development in all countries and promote significant energy development in developing countries. Interwoven with all these considerations is the need to help countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Engaging developing countries will be critical to global success in reaching the goal of the UNFCCC. While greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to anthropogenic climate change have historically come mainly from developed countries, an increasing share of emissions is coming from developing nations—especially the large developing countries that are experiencing powerful economic growth. Incentives will be required to convince developing countries to undertake the required emission reductions.

IISD has been an active participant in exploring options for an international climate regime after 2012 through independent analysis and participation in collaborative partnerships with international partners. In 2008 and 2009 it specifically examined options for encouraging developing countries to be more actively engaged in the development and implementation of an effective and sustainable future international climate regime. The output of this research was a series of three reports that examined how to engage developing countries in a post-2012 climate regime. The three papers should be read in conjunction with each other.

IISD's work on encouraging developing country participation in a post-2012 climate change regime was supported by Environment Canada. In parallel, IISD also engaged in exploring post-2012 options for Canada.