Burden sharing and global climate negotiations

The allocation of GHG emission reductions in the Kyoto protocol is investigated in relation to the different arguments advanced during the Kyoto negotiations. Regression-based evidence suggests that countries were compensated for early action and that affluent countries, states with high GHG emissions, countries with a high projected growth rate as well as potential EU member states undertook to meet the strictest targets.

These findings are important for the COP 15 negotiations in Copenhagen and show that the context in which negotiations are undertaken influences the obligations that countries are willing to accept.