Assessment of Net Mitigation in the Context of International Greenhouse Gas Emissions Control Mechanisms
This paper discusses the scope for market mechanisms, already established for greenhouse gas mitigation in Annex 1 countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol, for implementing "net mitigation," defined here as mitigation beyond Annex 1 co...
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Format: | Working Paper |
Language: | English en_US |
Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2016
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Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2016/03/26050718/assessment-net-mitigation-context-international-greenhouse-gas-emissions-control-mechanisms http://hdl.handle.net/10986/24137 |
Summary: | This paper discusses the scope for
market mechanisms, already established for greenhouse gas
mitigation in Annex 1 countries that ratified the Kyoto
Protocol, for implementing "net mitigation,"
defined here as mitigation beyond Annex 1 countries'
formal mitigation requirements under the Kyoto Protocol.
Such market mechanisms could be useful for establishing and
extending greenhouse gas mitigation targets also under the
Paris Agreement from December 2015. Net mitigation is
considered in two possible forms: as a "net atmospheric
benefit," or as an “own contribution” by offset host
countries. A main conclusion is that a “net atmospheric
benefit” is possible at least in the short run, best
implemented via stricter baselines against which offsets are
credited; but it can also take the form of offset
discounting whereby offset buyers are credited fewer
credits. The latter, although generally inefficient, can be
a second-best response to certain imperfections in the
offset market, which are discussed in the paper. There is
less merit for claiming that "own contributions"
can lead to additional mitigation under existing mechanisms. |
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