Sharing global CO2 emission reductions among one billion high emitters.

ABSTRACT: We present a framework for allocating a global carbon reduction target among nations, in which the concept of "common but differentiated responsibilities" refers to the emissions of individuals instead of nations. We use the income distribution of a country to estimate how its fossil fuel CO(2) emissions are distributed among its citizens, from which we build up a global CO(2) distribution. We then propose a simple rule to derive a universal cap on global individual emissions and find corresponding limits on national aggregate emissions from this cap. All of the world's high CO(2)-emitting individuals are treated the same, regardless of where they live. Any future global emission goal (target and time frame) can be converted into national reduction targets, which are determined by "Busines

SUBMITTER: Chakravarty S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2706272 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature