1. Sharing a quota on cumulative carbon emissions
- Author
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Raupach, MR, Davis, SJ, Peters, GP, Andrew, RM, Canadell, JG, Ciais, P, Friedlingstein, P, Jotzo, F, Van Vuuren, DP, and Le Quéré, C
- Subjects
Atmospheric Sciences ,Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience ,Environmental Science and Management - Abstract
Any limit on future global warming is associated with a quota on cumulative global CO2 emissions. We translate this global carbon quota to regional and national scales, on a spectrum of sharing principles that extends from continuation of the present distribution of emissions to an equal per-capita distribution of cumulative emissions. A blend of these endpoints emerges as the most viable option. For a carbon quota consistent with a 2°C warming limit (relative to pre-industrial levels), the necessary long-term mitigation rates are very challenging (typically over 5% per year), both because of strong limits on future emissions from the global carbon quota and also the likely short-term persistence in emissions growth in many regions.
- Published
- 2014