Managing a global carbon budget – Energy Rationing
The science shows that we cannot afford to burn all the oil, gas, and coal left on the planet, as this will lead to run away climate change, in fact we have burnt too much already and need to take measures to reabsorb some of those carbon emissions1. Contraction & Convergence is a proposal for nations to adopt to reduce carbon emissions. Having identified national annual allocation of carbon emissions, this budget will be divided into annual allocations with a year on year reduction (Contraction), bring all nations to a position of emission equity (Convergence). Major emitters like UK and US will have to make drastic cuts initially, whereas countries like Bangladesh would reduce by less. Where nations use less than their quote they could trade these with other countries as Tradable Energy Quotas (TEQs)
Carbon Budget Britain (Source: Zero Carbon Britain)
Footnotes
- Centre for Alternative Technology commissioned study, Zero Carbon Britain Strategy 2008 p.9 [↩]
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