ANU greenhouse treaty plan wins US support

By Shelly Simonds

US policy makers may adopt an ANU professor's proposal for implementing a global treaty on greenhouse gas emissions.

ANU Prof Warwick McKibbin, RSPAS, and co-author Peter Wilcoxen of the University of Texas, argue current treaty proposals are flawed, and has outlined an alternative strategy.

His alternative plan is being considered by US advisers to senior government officials and by government environment agencies.

The proposal, published in a paper this month by the Brookings Institution in Washington, attacks the current treaty plan - the Framework Convention on Climate Change - laid-out at the Rio Summit in 1992.

The Rio treaty proposal is overly optimistic, according to Prof McKibbin, because it attempts to halt the growth of emissions.

Since the Industrial Revolution, greenhouse gas emissions have increased exponentially. The current treaty would have this growth pattern flatten out abruptly.

Prof McKibbin proposes a more modest strategy which would slow the growth of emissions through permits and user fees at a national level.

He has also presented his plan to the Australian government - which has yet to decide whether to endorse it.

Under the plan, any company or organisation wanting to emit more than it did in 1990 would be required to buy a permit costing US$5-$10 a tonne.

Permit prices would be set through international negotiation but would be sold nationally.

The US has outlined a system to implement the Rio treaty - also based around a system of permits. A limited number of permits would be distributed through international negotiation. Permits could then be traded on a global market.