The authors suggest a multi-layered system of three convergence criteria – similar to those used in the run-up to the European monetary union – that define the notion of ?demonstrable progress? towards reaching the emission commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. These are the existence of an...

Frankreich befand sich lange Zeit in einem klimapolitischen ?Teufelskreis, in dem sich mangelnde Information und mangelndes Interesse gegenseitig verschärften? (Brodhag 1997). Dazu trug die enge Verquickung zwischen Bürokratie und wirtschaftlichen Interessengruppen sowie die zentralistische...

So far, the dominant paradigm in international climate policy has been mitigation while adaptation has been a low-key issue. However, with LDCs starting to push for adaptation side payments it has recently gained importance. The allocation of funds and the definition of adaptation activities are...

China has had an enormous growth of energy and electricity consumption during the last decades. This has been fuelled primarily by using domestic coal resources. Until 1997, annual construction of power stations averaged around 15 GW which was not sufficient to alleviate the demand surplus....

Joint Implementation (JI) is a potentially powerful instrument of climate policy that could lead to a high amount of additional financial flows to developing countries. Nevertheless, many NGOs and developing country representatives are very skeptical about JI and fear that it would not take into...