Complex Elements of Global Fairness

摘要

This report, which analyzes proposals to credit early, voluntary actions to211u001emitigate greenhouse gas emissions, is the first in a series to be published by 211u001ethe Pew Center on Global Climate Change. The Pew Center was established in 1998 211u001eby the Pew Charitable Trusts to bring a new cooperative approach andcritical 211u001escientific, economic, and technological expertise to the global climate change 211u001edebate. Some U.S. companies have indicated support for early action programs in 211u001ekeeping with their desire to take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gases and 211u001etheir need for assurance that such actions will be rewarded and not punished.This 211u001ereport addresses the issues that policy makers will face in designing a domestic 211u001eearly action program, analyzes current proposals, and suggests a set of 211u001eprinciples to guide an effective program. It sug-gests that, regardless of any 211u001eeventual international framework, the U.S. can take steps to credit reductions in 211u001egases now, and therefore encourage and reward companies that act to minimize 211u001etheir emissions. The longer we wait to address climate change, the more it is 211u001elikely to cost both environmentally and economically. The Pew Center concludes: 211u001eTHE COST OF DELAY IS SIGNIFICANT; U.S. LEADERSHIP IS IMPERATIVE; AND LEADERSHIP 211u001eMUST START WITH CONGRESS.