Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 07/2010

Climate Change Policies: Many Paths Forward

Paula Dobriansky, Vaughan Turekian

February 2010

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University

Abstract

The twelve years since the conclusion of Kyoto have provided an abundance of ideas and experiences that can contribute to effective global action to address climate change. Individually, developed and developing countries are establishing and implementing national policies and investing in new technologies. Internationally, governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are working together in numerous venues to share ideas, to coordinate policies in areas such as regulation, research, and investment, and to distill lessons that can be incorporated into new policies. Linking these many efforts, which range from large international exchanges to targeted multilateral groups to actionoriented partnerships, will be crucial to success in combating climate change.