A Triptych sectoral approach to burden differentiation; GHG emissions in the European bubble

As Parties to the Climate Convention EU Member States have opted for a join t fulfilment of post-2000 greenhouse gas emission reduction obligations. No agreement could be reached on a joint EU target before the distribution of the burden of emission reductions among Member States had been agreed upon , This paper presents a sectoral approach to burden sharing, which incorpor ates important national circumstances. The three categories distinguished a re the power sector, the internationally operating energy-intensive industr y and the remaining domestically oriented sectors. Emission allowances are calculated by applying rules, such as a limitation of coal use for power pr oduction, minimum requirements for renewable energy, and minimum energy eff iciency improvement rates in industry. For the domestic sectors a per capit a emission allowance approach is used, The approach is applied to EU Member States to show the distribution of emission reductions for 2010. Also a co mparison with other burden differentiation approaches is made, Results of t he analysis played an important role in internal EU discussions, resulting in a better understanding among negotiators of differences in national circ umstances and their role in emission levels, This improved understanding le d to a political agreement on emission reduction targets that are substanti ally higher than targets Member States had been prepared to accept earlier. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.