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Economic Freedom, Economic Growth and Climate Change Policy

Explore the impact of economic freedom on climate change policies. Learn about technologies and strategies to achieve sustainable economic growth while combatting climate change.

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Economic Freedom, Economic Growth and Climate Change Policy

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  1. Economic Freedom, Economic Growth and Climate Change Policy Dr. Margo Thorning Managing Director, International Council for Capital Formation Brussels Office: Park Leopold, Rue Wiertz 50/28 B-1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32.2.401.68.44 Fax: +32.2.401.68.68 Email: mthorning@iccfglobal.org Web: www.iccfglobal.org Washington D.C. Office: 1750 K Street, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20006 Tel: 202-293-5811 Fax: 202-785-8165 Prepared for presentation at COP 10, December 15, 2004 Buenos Aires, Argentina

  2. CO2 Reductions Required by 2050 Under 550 PPM Scenario

  3. Where Does Europe Stand onActually Complying with Kyoto? • European Union is projected to be 7.5% above the 1990 emission levels by 2010. • EU leaders realize they cannot reconcile goals of increased EU industrial competitiveness as well as tighter future targets for GHG emission reductions. • Economic research shows Kyoto and tighter targets could reduce EU GDP by 1.5 to 4% annually. • EU policy-makers are beginning to worry about the additional steps required to meet the targets including the impact of emission trading schemes on industry.

  4. What Impact Would Emission Targets Have on Latin America? MMTC • Latin American emissions are projected to grow by 27% in 2010 and 82% by 2020 • Even holding emissions constant would reduce GDP levels and employment

  5. Economic Freedom and the Adoption of New Energy Technologies • Economic Freedom Promotes Improved Living Standards: protection of investment, openness of internal markets, overall share of output absorbed by government, political freedom • Faster Economic Growth: associated with adoption of new energy technologies which reduces energy intensity of emissions as living standards rise • Barriers to new technology: • Pricing distortions • Lack of markets • Subsidies through State run enterprises • Lack of protection for property rights including intellectual property • Restrictions on foreign direct investment • Lack of infrastructure, education, skills to handle new technology • Import restrictions

  6. Country Energy per GDP (Btu per 1995 $) Freedom Index Carbon per GDP (MMTC per 1995 $) GDP per capita (1995 $) Russia 75,540 5.04 1.15 $2,500 China 36,578 5.49 0.77 $870 India 27,053 6.12 0.54 $495 South Africa 25,568 6.77 0.58 $3,985 Indonesia 20,373 5.57 0.37 $998 Poland 20,905 6.00 0.46 $4,276 Energy Intensity and Economic Freedom in Developing and Emerging Economies

  7. United States 10,660 8.29 0.17 $31,695 United Kingdom 7,336 8.23 0.12 $22,708 Ireland 5,859 7.95 0.11 $28,953 Germany 5,366 7.32 0.09 $32,827 Hong Kong 4,658 8.63 0.09 $24,281 Japan 3,858 7.06 0.06 $44,680 Energy Intensity and Economic Freedom in Developed Countries Country Energy per GDP (Btu per 1995 $) Freedom Index Carbon per GDP (MMTC per 1995 $) GDP per capita (1995 $)

  8. Promising Technologies to Reduce GHG Emissions • Efficiency Improvements: • In current energy sources and in transport • Advanced electrical grids • Decarbonization and Carbon Sequestration: • Hydrogen production from water rather than natural gas • Biomass and coal gasification • Renwables: • Biomass • Photovoltaic • Wind • Hydropower • Geothermal • Tidal • Space Solar Power • Nuclear Fission and Fusion: • Pebble beds reactors offer more safety • Fusion is promising due since it would not be potentially fuel constrained • Geoengineering: technologies to compensate for warming produced by GHG’s • Injecting reflective sulfates, sub-micrometer dust in the upper atmosphere, giant reflecting mirrors based in space

  9. Impact of New Technologies on Carbon Emissions 0.7 0.6 0.5 Installed Plant and Equipment 0.4 Million Metric Tonnes Carbon/Billion $1997 0.3 New Investment in Plant and 0.2 Equipment 0.1 0 China India U.S. Japan Carbon Emissions Per Dollar/ Output

  10. Practical Strategies to Address Economic Growth and Climate Change Policy • Remove barriers to developing world’s access to more energy and cleaner technology by promoting economic freedom and market reforms • Increase R&D for new technologies to reduce energy intensity and develop alternatives to fossil fuels • Develop sequestration through both natural and man-made technologies • Promote nuclear power for electricity • Expand bilateral cooperation with developing countries • Promote a truly global solution

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