Costa Rica

by Ray Fernando and Priya Chauhan

II. Post Kyoto Arguments

Goal of Agreement

¨     Policy implementation beyond Kyoto Protocol is necessary

¨     Must utilize alternative sources of energy

¨     Forest conservation

¨     Incentives to invest in projects for developing countries which focus on adaptation and new technologies

¨     Maintain biodiversity

Length of Post-Kyoto Protocol

¨     Agreement should be extended longer than 2012

¨     It is necessary to extend the time length for action and consider two classes of commitments:

¡        Moderate ones in the short run: in order to not provoke obsolescence of capital prematurely

¡        Stringent ones in the long run, in order to give incentives to technological change.

Changes in Annexes format

¨     Annex-based system is a good system, but can be modified to be more equitable.

¨     Developing countries should make "growth commitments", which are commitments that become more stringent as the countries become wealthier.

¨     These changing commitments would balance the equity, effectiveness and efficiency motive

Emissions Limits

¨     Absolute limits are definitive solution

¨     If countries are limited to a maximum amount of GHG emissions, this can ensure the sustainability of the environment.

CDM

¨     CDM is good, but it should be expanded upon

¨     Needs to focus on forest conservation.

¨     Carbon emissions from deforestation represent 18-25% of all emissions.

¨     Instead of finding alternative energy pathways, it is focused upon projects that hardly make developing impact.

¨     Current CDM projects are helping to curtail GHG emissions, but are simultaneously reversing gains made through ozone layer preservation

Costa Rica is a model of sustainable development for developing countries.

¨     Promotes the use of renewable sources like Hydro, Mini hydro, Wind, Geothermal and Sun, mainly for electricity generation.

¨     Almost 90% of the electricity is produced from these renewable sources.

Major Modifications to Kyoto Protocol Agreement

¨     Kyoto is one short term solution.  The following attempts to offer long term solutions:

¨     Developed countries should have to pay MORE money (billions of dollars) and supply MORE technology to the developing countries than is currently required through the Kyoto Protocol.

¨     Stronger focus on alternative/renewable sources of energy

¨     An emphasis on avoiding deforestation & maintaining biodiversity