Fairness in International Climate Change Law and Policy

About this book

Originally published in 2009, this work analyses fairness dimensions of the climate regime. A central issue in international law and policy is how countries of the world should allocate the burden of addressing global climate change. With the link between human activities and climate change clearly established, and the first impacts of climate change being felt, there is a renewed sense of urgency in addressing the problem. On the basis of an overview of science and the development of the climate regime, this book seeks to identify the elements of a working consensus on fairness principles that could be used to solve the seemingly intractable problem of assigning responsibility for combating climate change. The book demonstrates how an analysis of fairness dimensions of climate change - grounded in practical developments and illustrated with reference to the key issues - can add value to our understanding of the options for international climate law and policy.

Contents

1. Fairness; 2. The science of climate change and the energy challenge; 3. Development of the international climate change regime; 4. Theoretical aspects of equity and fairness; 5. Equity and fairness in the climate change regime; 6. Evaluation of proposals for future climate policy; 7. Conclusion.

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Biography

Dr Friedrich Soltau joined the United Nations in 2000, working since 2003 on a range of issues related to climate change, energy, and sustainable development. Prior to joining the United Nations, he taught in the Law Faculty at the University of Cape Town. His research interests in the area of climate change focus on issues of fairness and equity, which were the subject of his doctoral dissertation, as well as adaptation to climate change and legal and policy issues related to new energy technologies.