Sharing global CO2 emission reductions among one billion high emitters
- aPrinceton Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540;
- bBelfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139;
- cEnergy Research Centre of the Netherlands, P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG, Petten, The Netherlands; and
- dFondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, 20123 Milan, Italy
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Contributed by Stephen Pacala, May 19, 2009 (sent for review March 16, 2009)

Abstract
We present a framework for allocating a global carbon reduction target among nations, in which the concept of “common but differentiated responsibilities” refers to the emissions of individuals instead of nations. We use the income distribution of a country to estimate how its fossil fuel CO2 emissions are distributed among its citizens, from which we build up a global CO2 distribution. We then propose a simple rule to derive a universal cap on global individual emissions and find corresponding limits on national aggregate emissions from this cap. All of the world's high CO2-emitting individuals are treated the same, regardless of where they live. Any future global emission goal (target and time frame) can be converted into national reduction targets, which are determined by “Business as Usual” projections of national carbon emissions and in-country income distributions. For example, reducing projected global emissions in 2030 by 13 GtCO2 would require the engagement of 1.13 billion high emitters, roughly equally distributed in 4 regions: the U.S., the OECD minus the U.S., China, and the non-OECD minus China. We also modify our methodology to place a floor on emissions of the world's lowest CO2 emitters and demonstrate that climate mitigation and alleviation of extreme poverty are largely decoupled.
Footnotes
- 2To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: shoibalc{at}princeton.edu
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Author contributions: S.C., S.P., R.S., and M.T. designed research; S.C., R.S., and M.T. performed research; and S.C., A.C., H.d.C., S.P., R.S., and M.T. wrote the paper.
↵1Present address: ICF International, Fairfax, VA 22031.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Freely available online through the PNAS open access option.