Climate Change: Developing Countries Control the Thermostat


 

Publication Date: February 2010

Publisher: National Center for Policy Analysis (U.S.)

Author(s): H. Sterling Burnett

Research Area: Environment

Keywords: climate change; developing countries

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

In December 2009, representatives of nearly 200 governments met in Copenhagen, Denmark, to hammer out the details of a new climate change treaty. Treaty drafts indicated that industrialized countries would be required to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions - primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) - up to 80 percent by 2050. Developing countries would not be required to reduce emissions much, if at all. However, no agreement was reached and no firm emissions reduction commitments were made.