talks and negotiations to work out what this political framework might look like. One significant point of disagreement between rich and poor countries that emerged at Barcelona was the question of whether or not to keep the Kyoto protocol. Russia took sides with most of the developed countries by calling for Kyoto to be dropped when it expires in 2012 and to be replaced by a different treaty. ...

In this paper we analyze the driving factors of CO2 emissions in the context of environmental regulations using a dynamic panel data model for the period 1960 to 2009. Given the current policy debate and the importance of evaluating the effectiveness in terms of emission reductions of the already established climate agreements, we investigate to what extent emission reduction obligations from t...

The Kyoto Protocol is seen by many as a step forward in reaching the UNFCCC goals of slowing emissions of greenhouse gases. In this paper we argue that the issue of regime sustainability in developing the Kyoto approach to climate change has received too little attention. We question the sustainability of the Kyoto Protocol and suggest an alternative approach that is more politically and econom...

The paper focuses on the macroeconomic and sectoral effects on developing countries (which have no emission abatement targets) of abatement actions in developed countries. The importance of the Kyoto mechanisms in minimising these impacts is examined in the analysis, with an emphasis on the importance of emissions trading in reducing abatement costs. Lower economic costs, in turn, reduce the im...

This paper assesses the economic impacts of the Swiss climate policy formulated under the Kyoto Protocol; the impacts on the carbon price, the welfare cost, and trade effects are examined. Our analysis is based on a multi-sectoral and multi-regional, computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the world economy (GEMINI-E3) which includes a representation of the Swiss economy. The model is use...

Ocean iron fertilization is currently discussed as a potential measure to mitigate climate change by enhancing oceanic CO2 uptake. Its mitigation potential is not yet well explored, and carbon offsets generated through iron fertilization activities could currently not be traded on regulated carbon markets. Still, commercial interests in ocean iron fertilization already exist, which underlines t...

This paper deals with the simulation of the implications for the economy of Colombia of the Kyoto Protocol on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Protocol proposes three flexibility instruments for reaching at a lower global cost the reduction targets: the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation that would permit developing and developed countries to co-operate on a project ...