The Climate Governance project examined climate governance at national and regional scales, examining the theoretical and empirical justifications for different strategic approaches and policy instruments to respond to climate change.
The basic question was whether an approach built around carbon pricing was suited to the immediate challenges associated with decarbonization of the energy supply, or whether instruments more commonly associated with technology policy were likely to be more effective.
In the decades to come, the current movement toward global environmental governance will probably become stronger. However, it is unlikely in the short term that any international regime will have the power to stipulate and enforce the energy mix of individual countries.
Nevertheless, pricing will play an important role. The relative prices of different energy technologies are expected to evolve quickly, with wind and concentrated solar power expected to become economically competitive with coal in the next 15 years.
2011 - 2014
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
Phone: (+43 2236) 807 0 Fax:(+43 2236) 71 313