Au-delà de Kyoto : enjeux d'équité et d'efficacité dans la négociation sur le changement climatique

Abstract

Beyond Kyoto: Issues of Equity and Efficiency in Climate Change Negotiations by Odile Blanchard, Patrick Criqui, Michel Trommetter and Laurent Viguier This paper develops some basic methodological principles which can be used to study two questions: firstly, equitable methods of integrating developing countries into a long-term global programme to limit growth in greenhouse gas emissions, and, secondly, the contribution, in terms of economic efficiency, of tradable emission-permit systems. With regard to the first question, it turns out that no operative rule of differentiation or single principle of equity seems able to obtain the approval of all countries in so far as their interests remain structurally different. We have therefore constructed a simple and pragmatic scenario of CO2 emission stabilisation by 2030 and then shown that it could lead to a relative convergence of laws and a greater regard for democratic equality. In terms of efficiency, the findings emphasise the benefit of introducing a market for tradable emission permits, since this would make it possible to restore ex post facto the efficiency which had not existed a priori in the initial distribution of rights. The utilitarian concept of equity would also be respected in this case.