In light of the fact that any attempt to
reach consensus on the operationalization of equity will run into conflicts
with national interest, the paper recommends a completely new
approach that would fund a new carbon revolution while abandoning the current
approach in which nations make individual emissions reductions commitments consistent
with what equity requires of them.
Given the urgency of
reaching an agreement and the realities of
national reluctance, the most fruitful
approach is a harmonized carbon price
with trade sanctions as a way to prevent countries from free riding on the investments of others.