Transcript Presentation

Foreign Policy Research
on Climate Change
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Mykhaylo Komarnytskyy
Iryna Bilotserkivska
Marcie Hawranik
 Background Information
 Policy Options
 Recommendations
Background Information
Climate change impact on France:
♦ Average temperature increase by 2◦C
♦ Decrease in summer rainfall → worsening of
forest health
♦ High risk of forest fires, floods, insect infestation
♦ Dwindling snow cover & avalanche threat in
French Alps → tourism reduction
♦ Sea levels rise & increase in frequency of
storms in French overseas territories
Background Information
France contribution on fighting climate change:
● Ratification of UNFCCC in March 1994
● Party to the Kyoto Protocol since 1998
● Launched climate change abatement
strategy in early 1990’s
● One of the leading nuclear & renewable
energy producers in the world
Policy Option 1
■ Continue policy on reducing CO2 emission
PRO: Policy has already reduced CO2 emissions per head of
population more that any other EU member
CON: - Cost of greenhouse gas mitigation is relatively high;
- Replacement of energy sources no longer produces
further lasting reduction of CO2 emissions
Policy Option 2
■ Stop complying to Kyoto Protocol and UNFCCC
PRO: Avoid extra costs connected with CO2
emissions
CON: France increases its possibility of
suffering from climate change consequences
and credibility will be diminished in the
international arena
Policy Option 3
■ Push EU to adopt market-based policy that relies on
trading permits or taxing emissions based on polluterpays principle
PRO: Most effective, cheap and equitable way of
sharing costs of reducing CO2 emissions
between developed countries
CON: - Challenge of establishing new international
framework to regulate fair completion;
- Failure to adopt this policy under the same
conditions by all partners could lead to
unacceptable burden on certain enterprises
Recommendation
Policy Option 3
 EU as a whole would be more effective in reaching its
target of reducing CO2 emissions
 Pollution abatement is achieved by minimum cost
 France would continue to work toward CO2 reduction
while will be able to avoid high cost measures
Recommendation
 Encourage former colonies to ratify Kyoto Protocol
 Possibility of modifying the road tax
 Policy Option 3 is consistent with the principle of
economic efficiency and the polluter-pays principle
QUESTIONS?