The Kyoto Protocol and Sustainable Development (W-81)

The Kyoto Protocol and Sustainable Development (W-81)

Publication details

  • Sunday | 01 Dec, 2002
  • Shaheen Rafi Khan
  • Working Papers
  • 37
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Shaheen Rafi Khan 2002 Abstract On the basis of their present and projected per capita emissions, developing countries are not likely to be key players in global warming with such emissions being well below the global average. This paper argues that developing countries have no intrinsic reason to buy into the ‘mitigation groundswell’ driven by Northern global warming concerns, of which the clean development mechanism (CDM) is the most recent manifestation. On the other hand, the local consequences of GHG emissions present more compelling evidence for Pakistan to make an effort to abate such emissions.  Also, market incentives and the complex north-south dynamics associated with CDMs will either induce or compel the South to buy into the CDM process. At that stage, it should come armed with its own menu of options – one driven by sustainable development concerns.