Voluntary programs to reduce GHG emissions: Cross-national perspectives
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States). Office of Fossil Energy
- ICF Resources Inc., Fairfax, VA (United States)
The international community continues to explore appropriate actions to respond to the threat of global climate change. In addition to the scoping questions of when, where, and how much to reduce GHG emissions, there are also issues of how these GHG reductions are to be achieved. Methods being explored include emission caps, carbon taxes, efficiency standards, voluntary programs, and others. In the US, the Climate Change Action Plan is based primarily upon voluntary actions, and creates numerous partnerships between government and industry to improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions in all sectors of the economy. The Plan reflects the belief that voluntary approaches are more likely to produce quicker and more cost-effective results than rigid command-and-control approaches. While the voluntary nature of the Climate Change Action Plan is an appropriate framework for the US, it is also in part a reflection of the political, institutional, and economic structure of the country. Other countries, having different underlying conditions, may find such a voluntary approach more or less workable. This paper compares the US experience with voluntary programs to that of other countries as they also move toward longer-term GHG policies. This selected review of voluntary actions shows how voluntary programs have been a vital component of many nations` efforts to reduce GHG emissions. Additionally, by being proactive, private sector companies are demonstrating environmental stewardship and accelerating the introduction of new ideas.
- OSTI ID:
- 353564
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970677--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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