W[h]ither the Kyoto Protocol? Durban and Beyond

Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, Forthcoming

12 Pages Posted: 28 Aug 2011 Last revised: 20 Sep 2011

See all articles by Daniel Bodansky

Daniel Bodansky

Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Date Written: August 26, 2011

Abstract

What will happen when the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period expires at the end of next year? This paper for the Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements analyzes the options going forward, including adoption of a legally-binding second commitment period, a "political" second commitment period, or no new commitment period. It considers the legal implications of a gap between the end of Kyoto's first commitment period and the adoption of a new legal regime to limit emissions, the prospects for the Clean Development Mechanism in the absence of a second Kyoto commitment period, and the relationship between the Kyoto Protocol negotiations and the emerging regime under the Cancun Agreements. It concludes that a transitional regime, involving a second commitment period that is politically but not legally binding, represents a possible middle ground that could complement efforts under the Cancun Agreements to develop a flexible, evolutionary framework of climate governance.

Keywords: climate change, global warming, Kyoto Protool, Copenhagen Accord, Cancun Agreements, UNFCCC, International

JEL Classification: K33, K22, N40

Suggested Citation

Bodansky, Daniel, W[h]ither the Kyoto Protocol? Durban and Beyond (August 26, 2011). Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1917603

Daniel Bodansky (Contact Author)

Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

111 E Taylor St
Phoenix, AZ 85004
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
2,382
Abstract Views
9,716
Rank
11,286
PlumX Metrics