Climate change mitigation in developing countries. Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
- China Energy Research Institute, Beijing (China)
- Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (India)
- El Colegio de Mexico, Mexico D.F. (Mexico)
- University of Cape Toen, Cape Town (South Africa)
- MedConsult, Ankara (Turkey)
Greenhouse gas emissions from developing countries will likely surpass those from developed countries within the first half of this century, highlighting the need for developing country efforts to reduce the risk of climate change. While developing nations have been reluctant to accept binding emissions targets, asking that richer nations take action first, many are undertaking efforts that have significantly reduced the growth of their own greenhouse gas emissions. In most cases, climate mitigation is not the goal, but rather an outgrowth of efforts driven by economic, security, or local environmental concerns. This study attempts to document the climate mitigation resulting from such efforts in six key countries (Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey) and to inform policy-making aimed at further mitigation in these and other developing nations. The six countries examined here reflect significant regional, economic, demographic, and energy resource diversity. They include the world's two most populous nations, a major oil exporter, Africa's largest greenhouse gas emitter, and the country with the largest expanse of tropical forest. While their circumstances vary widely, these countries share common concerns that have motivated actions resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions growth. Primary among these concerns are economic growth, energy security, and improved air quality. The analysis presented here demonstrates that actions taken by these countries to achieve these and other goals have reduced the growth of their combined annual greenhouse gas emissions over the past three decades by nearly 300 million tons a year. If not for these actions, the annual emissions of these six countries would likely be about 18 percent higher than they are today. To put these figures in perspective, if all developed countries were to meet the emission targets set by the Kyoto Protocol, they would have to reduce their emissions by an estimated 392 million tons from where they are projected to be in 2010.
- Research Organization:
- Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Arlington, VA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 20824026
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CLIMATIC CHANGE
MITIGATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
BRAZIL
CHINA
INDIA
MEXICO
SOUTH AFRICA
TURKEY
GREENHOUSE GASES
EMISSION
ENERGY POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
PER CAPITA VALUES
CARBON DIOXIDE