Kyoto Protocol: Counting the costs of emissions

The Kyoto Protocol allows countries to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets by cutting back on gases other than CO₂. The trade off between CO₂ and the other gases is generally calculated using the global warming potential (GWP) index, which compares the relative radiative forcing of different gases integrated over time. But some observers consider this index inadequate as it does not consider economic aspects and is sensitive to arbitrary choices on timing. Manne and Richels present an alternative to the GWP designed to establish equivalence between greenhouse gases using cost as a key factor.

letters to nature
An alternative approach to establishing trade-offs among greenhouse gases
ALAN S. MANNE & RICHARD G. RICHELS
Nature 410, 675-677 (5 April 2001)
| First Paragraph | Full Text | PDF (129 K) |

news and views
Global change: Time, money and tradeoffs
DAVID F. BRADFORD
Measurement of the total emissions of greenhouse gases implies specifying 'tradeoffs' of one against another, as in the Kyoto Protocol. In that process, economics has to be taken into account.
Nature 410, 649-650 (5 April 2001)
| Full Text | PDF (205 K) |

5 April 2001 table of contents