The challenge to treat countries according to the Global Ethic might receive a boost. The so-called ‘Contraction and Convergence’ [C&C] initiative of the Global Commons Institute in the UK might for example be attractive from this perspective. Inspiring Progress: - Religions’ Contributions to Sustainable Development - Gary T. Gardner
http://www.amazon.com/Inspiring-Progress-Contributions-Sustainable-Development/dp/0393328325/ref=sr_1_fkmr0 _2?ie=UTF8&qid=1306230489&sr=8-2-fkmr0
One of the most highly developed models is ‘Contraction and Convergence’ which leads from egalitarian ideals by way of science. The best estimate of the amount of greenhouse gasn a stable atmosphere well short of catastrophic climate change would be the target and nations would move towards it [contraction based on an eventual equal distribution of emissions per person [convergence]. Proponents see the equality as the only way of apportioning ‘use’ of the atmosphere, which has no boundaries and supports everyone. The Global Commons Institute has been bringing this idea to the international climate meetings since 1990. Earth Under Fire - Gary Braasch
http://books.google.com/books?id=PJJqIighGX0C&pg=PA177&dq=contraction+and+convergence&hl=en&ei=E-TbTd jWL8Or8APWyZEB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC8Q6AEwATiMAQ#v=onepage&q=contracti on%20and%20convergence&f=false
‘Contraction & Convergence’ a framework for long-term climate policy, is an idea promoted by the Global Commons Institute. The aim is to avoid climate destabilization in an equitable way. The first part starts with the assumption that there is a certain safe level of GHGs in the atmosphere. If this level is exceeded, the world would risk catastrophic effects of climate change. It is difficult to say exactly what the safe level is, but it is commonly agreed that CO2 concentrations should stay within a range of 450-550 part million by volume. On the basis of this the worldwide CO2 emissions can be calculated.To be realistic, contraction should take into account the current CO2 emissions and the growth path of emissions in the short term. In the longer term, there has to be a large contraction of emissions in order to stay within the safe level of for example 450 ppmv in the atmosphere. Based on the agreed upper limit of CO2 concentration combined with a feasible rate of emissions reduction over time a global emissions budget can be set.The second part convergence is about an equitable distribution of the worldwide emissions budget. The ideal would be an equal per capita distribution of the emissions entitlements. This could be done per year and distributed per country. The emissions entitlement should then be tradable between countries. Given population growth and the fact that emissions have to be reduced over time, the per capita entitlements will become less each year. A sudden introduction of an equal per capita distribution of emissions entitlements would not be politically acceptable. The current per capita emissions in developed countries are many times higher than those in developing countries. Climate Change in Developing Countries M van Drunen, R Lasage, C Dorland
http://www.amazon.com/Climate-Change-Developing-Countries-Michiel/dp/1845930770/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF 8&qid=1306237539&sr=1-1
The equitable vision of ‘Contraction and Convergence’ where all countries have the same carbon emission rights per person and everyone continues to get richer, especially in developing countries, could head for carbon reductions around 90% over the next century. Could that grand vision of a richer, fairer, cooler, and safer world actually be feasible and profitable? ASAHI GLASS Blue Planet Lecture Lovins 2007 http://www.gci.org.uk/Documents/Asahi_2007_Lecture_Lovins.pdf