Climate Change Briefing

van Ypersele de Strihou, Jean-Pascal [UCL]

Global Climate Change is emerging as one of the most important environmental threats facing mankind. There is an increasing consensus amongst scientists worldwide that the threat is real. The Climate Convention and the more recent Kyoto Protocol demonstrate seriousness of the global community towards addressing the causes and consequences of global climate change. This report is a pioneering contribution and brings together expertise from both developed and developing countries to place population control in its correct context in relation to climate change response strategy. The report concludes that it is not population numbers in developing countries but the consumption pattern particularly in the north that are of importance as far as greenhouse gas emission is, concerned. Technology can play a vital role. The per-capita concept in greenhouse gas emission will continue to remain a central issue in the debate on global climate change policy and mitigation as we enter the post-Kyoto Protocol world.