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New Book* Launched on Eve of Climate Ministerial Highlights Need for More Constructive Approach to Address Problems Relating to Climate Change
ARCHIVED 2002–2016: Originally distributed via the eWire press wire service. Preserved as historical record.
New Book* Launched on Eve of Climate Ministerial Highlights Need for More Constructive Approach to Address Problems Relating to Climate Change
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New Book* Launched on Eve of Climate Ministerial Highlights Need for More Constructive Approach to Address Problems Relating to Climate Change
CANADA, Dec. 7 -/E-Wire/-- In 1997, governments of wealthy countries agreed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by an average of 5.2 percent by 2012 relative to emissions in 1990. In recent weeks and months, it has become clear that these targets would not be met without incurring substantial economic costs.
Nevertheless, pressure groups have made strident calls for governments around the world to agree further restrictions on emissions of greenhouse gases, for the post-2012 period, when Ministers meet in Montreal from 7-9 December at the UN's climate change meeting. However, this is not the best approach according to a new book – Carrots, Sticks and Climate Change -- published on Tuesday 6 December by the Sustainable Development Network**, a coalition of groups from around the world seeking practical policies to achieve real sustainable development.
In Carrots, Sticks and Climate Change, leading social scientists argue that a far more cost effective strategy would be to address the most pressing health and environmental problems society faces today, while providing an enabling environment for economic growth and technological change – so that we can solve tomorrow's problems as well.
The book contrasts two strategies that have been proposed to deal with climate change: sticks, which are attempts to restrain carbon emissions through regulatory interventions, and carrots, which would provide incentives to address both specific issues relating to climate and general issues relating to sustainable development.
The book emphasises that attempting to control emissions through sticks will have many negative effects and would likely be counterproductive. Imposing restrictions on emissions would drive up the cost of carbon-based energies, including gas and oil as well as coal. This would most adversely impact on the poor, who spend a larger portion of their income on energy. It would also impact on many industries, leading to unemployment and slowing down global economic growth. Moreover, it would undermine technological change – which would be necessary in the longer term if carbon reduction is deemed desirable.
In the short to medium term, it would be far more cost effective to address the real problems we actually face today (and will face in the future regardless of any reduction in emissions). Investments in reducing malaria, water-borne diseases and other problems will give a far higher payback than attempting to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, providing an enabling environment in which entrepreneurs can generate wealth and seek solutions to specific problems, will ensure that people are better able to adapt to a changing world. These conclusions are supported by an analysis of research carried out by the UK's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – the Department headed by Margaret Becket, MP, who is leading the EU delegation to Montreal.
In the longer term (post-2035) it may be necessary to impose limits on carbon emissions – but technologies that could achieve such restrictions at reasonable cost are far more likely to come into existence if the world is not hobbled by Kyoto-like restrictions.
Notes for Editors * Carrots, Sticks and Climate Change: A Primer on Down-to-Earth Ideas for Climate Policy ISBN 1-905041-12-8 Price £12.00 Published 6 December 2005 by International Policy Press
Foreword, executive summary and book chapters available online at
**The Sustainable Development Network (www.sdnetwork.net) coalition is coordinated by International Policy Network (www.policynetwork.net)
International Policy Network/Sustainable Development Network
Ellen Bisnath (LONDON), +44 20 7836 0754, +44 77 2408 3391 (mobile),
[REDACTED-EMAIL]
http://www.policynetwork.net
http://www.sdnetwork.net
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