Sarkozy latest convert to per capita convergence in climate policy?

by | Jun 14, 2008


Looks like Sarkozy’s the latest European leader to start getting behind convergence of national emission entitlements to equal per capita levels as the central principle in how to share out a global emissions budget.  Here’s an excerpt from the communique from his talks with Angela Merkel:

France and Germany consider paramount the goal to achieve a global agreement in the framework of the United Nations for the post 2012 period, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. The international climate regime should be based on legitimate principles of equity, such as long-term convergence of emission levels per capita in the various countries.

Full Elysee statement here; for the backstory, start here.

Author

  • Alex Evans is founder of Larger Us, which explores how we can use psychology to reduce political tribalism and polarisation, a senior fellow at New York University, and author of The Myth Gap: What Happens When Evidence and Arguments Aren’t Enough? (Penguin, 2017). He is a former Campaign Director of the 50 million member global citizen’s movement Avaaz, special adviser to two UK Cabinet Ministers, climate expert in the UN Secretary-General’s office, and was Research Director for the Business Commission on Sustainable Development. Alex lives with his wife and two children in Yorkshire.


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