International emission inequality and per capita abatement schemes

Authors

Muhammad K. Chowdhury, University of WollongongFollow
Amnon Levy, University of WollongongFollow
Jonathan Livermore, University of Sydney

RIS ID

37118

Publication Details

Levy, A., Chowdhury, K. & Livermore, J. Levy. (2011). International emission inequality and per capita abatement schemes. Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research, 3 (1), 77-90.

Abstract

Carbon dioxide emission inequalities between and within five income groups of countries are computed. The revealed dominant inequality between the high income groups and the low and middle income groups and its likely intensification by an internationally uniform abatement rate constitute a case for using per capita figures in assessing countries' unilateral and internationally cooperative abatements. Our analysis suggests that the cooperative expected net benefit maximizing abatement can be smaller than the unilateral abatement for weak countries and for countries with high ability and inclination to politically and economically reward other countries.