From Kyoto to Copenhagen: Rethinking the Place of Flexible Mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol's post 2012 Commitment Period

Amidst debates between the North and the South, Emission Trading (ET), Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI) were adopted as flexible mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol. These mechanisms allow developed countries to meet their emission reduction targets by investing in cl...

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Main Author: Damilola S. Olawuyi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: School of Oriental and African Studies 2010-06-01
Series:Law, Environment and Development Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://lead-journal.org/content/10021.pdf
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author Damilola S. Olawuyi
author_facet Damilola S. Olawuyi
author_sort Damilola S. Olawuyi
collection DOAJ
description Amidst debates between the North and the South, Emission Trading (ET), Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI) were adopted as flexible mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol. These mechanisms allow developed countries to meet their emission reduction targets by investing in clean projects in other countries of their choice. The implementation of these mechanisms have however been faced with many problems which cast doubts on their efficacy as viable options for combating climate change. One main criticism of these mechanisms is that they lead to a trade off between sustainability and emission reduction. This paper examines the efficiency of these mechanisms in combating climate change. It reviews the main criticisms of the flexibility mechanisms in an attempt to answer the question whether the flexibility idea should still be retained as part of the post 2012 commitments. While arguing in favor of flexibility, this paper offers ideas on how their effectiveness can be enhanced in the post 2012 commitment period.
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spelling doaj.art-3201d156cf07439fb5cc1fb205faac842022-12-21T22:40:17ZengSchool of Oriental and African StudiesLaw, Environment and Development Journal1746-58931746-58932010-06-01612135From Kyoto to Copenhagen: Rethinking the Place of Flexible Mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol's post 2012 Commitment PeriodDamilola S. OlawuyiAmidst debates between the North and the South, Emission Trading (ET), Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Joint Implementation (JI) were adopted as flexible mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol. These mechanisms allow developed countries to meet their emission reduction targets by investing in clean projects in other countries of their choice. The implementation of these mechanisms have however been faced with many problems which cast doubts on their efficacy as viable options for combating climate change. One main criticism of these mechanisms is that they lead to a trade off between sustainability and emission reduction. This paper examines the efficiency of these mechanisms in combating climate change. It reviews the main criticisms of the flexibility mechanisms in an attempt to answer the question whether the flexibility idea should still be retained as part of the post 2012 commitments. While arguing in favor of flexibility, this paper offers ideas on how their effectiveness can be enhanced in the post 2012 commitment period.http://lead-journal.org/content/10021.pdfClimate changeflexible mechanismsKyoto Protocolsustainable development
spellingShingle Damilola S. Olawuyi
From Kyoto to Copenhagen: Rethinking the Place of Flexible Mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol's post 2012 Commitment Period
Law, Environment and Development Journal
Climate change
flexible mechanisms
Kyoto Protocol
sustainable development
title From Kyoto to Copenhagen: Rethinking the Place of Flexible Mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol's post 2012 Commitment Period
title_full From Kyoto to Copenhagen: Rethinking the Place of Flexible Mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol's post 2012 Commitment Period
title_fullStr From Kyoto to Copenhagen: Rethinking the Place of Flexible Mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol's post 2012 Commitment Period
title_full_unstemmed From Kyoto to Copenhagen: Rethinking the Place of Flexible Mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol's post 2012 Commitment Period
title_short From Kyoto to Copenhagen: Rethinking the Place of Flexible Mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol's post 2012 Commitment Period
title_sort from kyoto to copenhagen rethinking the place of flexible mechanisms in the kyoto protocol s post 2012 commitment period
topic Climate change
flexible mechanisms
Kyoto Protocol
sustainable development
url http://lead-journal.org/content/10021.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT damilolasolawuyi fromkyototocopenhagenrethinkingtheplaceofflexiblemechanismsinthekyotoprotocolspost2012commitmentperiod