GLOBE Climate Legislation Study

par Danièle Revel · 09/05/2011

GLOBE Climate Legislation Study / T. Townshend, et al. Globe, April 2011, 276 p.

Presentation (© GLOBE) :

The study, completed in partnership with the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics, reveals some significant findings:

Legislation is being advanced, to varying degrees, in all of the study countries
Most of the legislative activity has taken place over the last year and a half – contrasting sharply with the difficulties experienced by the international negotiations over the same timeframe
This demonstrates that the shape of the debate is changing from one about sharing a global burden – with governments naturally trying to minimize their share – to one of a realisation that acting on climate change is in the national interest
It is particularly encouraging that the large developing countries of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa – who together represent the engine of global economic growth – are developing comprehensive laws to tackle climate change.
Current legislation does not yet, cumulatively, add up to what is necessary to avoid dangerous climate change
However, this legislation is putting in place the legal and policy frameworks to measure, report, verify and manage carbon
An international climate change agreement will only be possible when countries are already committed to taking the necessary action rooted in self-interest. In other words, an international agreement will only reflect political conditions, not define them. (© GLOBE)