Title: Limiting greenhouse gas emissions: is the Cancun agreement enough?

Authors: Stéphanie Monjon

Addresses: University Paris Dauphine (LEDa-CGEMP), CIRED and CEPII, Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 75775 Paris cedex 16, France

Abstract: The objective set by the IPPC of limiting the increase in average global temperature to +2°C compared with the pre-industrial era is now accepted by all concerned. This ambitious objective was recognised at the Copenhagen Conference in 2009 and confirmed at Cancun in 2010. There are still no restrictive measures, but to achieve this objective, the main countries contributing to the emissions have already announced their commitment to reducing their emissions by 2020. The aim of this paper is firstly to gain a better understanding of what this objective involves in terms of reducing global emissions over the next ten years. It will then go on to assess whether the measures taken by the various countries are sufficient.

Keywords: Kyoto Protocol; climate change; greenhouse gases; GHG emissions; Cancun agreement.

DOI: 10.1504/AFP.2012.046736

Atoms for Peace: an International Journal, 2012 Vol.3 No.3, pp.197 - 205

Published online: 29 Nov 2014 *