Title: Developing countries and climate change

Authors: Jose Goldemberg

Addresses: Instituto de Eletrotecnica e Energia, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 1289, Sao Paulo/SP 05508-900, Brazil

Abstract: This paper is a discussion of the policies of developing countries in the negotiations on climate change. To most developing countries, this is not considered a major issue (except for OASIS countries) but it was used as an instrument for leveraging their claims for a better distribution of wealth among nations and an increase in Official Development Assistance (ODA). The adoption of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and others is taking place in developing countries and one of the ||flexibility mechanisms|| created by the Kyoto Protocol could accelerate this process. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in particular gave hope for an increase in resources and clean technologies available to developing countries and has therefore encouraged a greater participation in the process. Although not subjected to caps in their emissions by the Kyoto Protocol, developing countries are achieving reductions in CO2 emissions that are greater than OECD countries as a percentage of their emissions.

Keywords: climate change; Kyoto Protocol; greenhouse effect; flexibility mechanisms; developing countries; Annex I countries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2002.002398

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2002 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.170-180

Published online: 17 Jul 2003 *

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