"Flaws in the Kyoto Protocol's Pollution Permit System" by Adam Mellem

Article Title

Flaws in the Kyoto Protocol's Pollution Permit System

Authors

Adam Mellem, University of Northern Iowa

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 attempts to address the problem of global warming by establishing national greenhouse gas emissions targets and timetables. To reduce emissions, the protocol outlines a tradeable pollution permit system. The system would allow countries with high abatement costs to purchase permits from countries with low abatement costs, equalizing global marginal abatement costs. The protocol, however, is destined to fail because of the free-rider problem and the problem of trade leakage. Given the correct guidelines, a tradeable pollution permit system would provide a market-based, cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Publication Date

Spring 2003

Journal Title

Major Themes in Economics

Volume

Issue

First Page

Last Page

Copyright

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Language

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Mellem, Adam (2003) "Flaws in the Kyoto Protocol's Pollution Permit System," Major Themes in Economics, 5, 67-74.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/mtie/vol5/iss1/7