For better or for worse? Effects of the CDM on South-North equity in climate change mitigation.

摘要

Focusing on the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), this thesis examines South-North equity in climate change mitigation and examines what effects the CDM may be having. The assessment begins by placing the CDM in the development theory landscape. Analysis then turns to global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), presenting the facts of past, present and future emissions and implications for South-North equity in climate change mitigation. From this context, the thesis examines the CDM and assesses assumptions about equity that are implicit in it and establishes a baseline of equitable distribution of mitigation burdens and benefits implicit in the CDM. Attention is then turned to emerging CDM operations data and trends, which lead to the conclusion that the CDM is adversely affecting South-North equity in climate change mitigation. General recommendations for future work are posited based on conclusions.