Tools to Combat Climate Change – Pros and Cons
Regulations and standards
|
Pros:
|
Generally provide some certainty about emission levels.
|
|
Cons:
|
They may be preferable to other instruments, but they may not induce innovations and more advanced technologies.
|
Voluntary actions
|
Pros:
|
May limit greenhouse gas emissions, stimulate innovative policies, and encourage the deployment of new technologies.
|
|
Cons:
|
On their own, they generally have limited impact
on a national- or regional-level of greenhouse gas emissions.
|
Information instruments (e.g. awareness campaigns)
|
Pros:
|
May positively affect environmental quality by promoting informed choices and possibly contributing to behavioural change.
|
|
Cons:
|
It is hard to measure impact of information instruments.
|
Financial incentives (subsidies and tax credits)
|
Pros:
|
Often critical to overcome barriers. Certain programs demonstrated that financial incentives coupled with personal interactions can be successful.
|
|
Cons:
|
Needs to be combined with other tools to ensure long-term change.
|
Source: Mitigation of Climate Change, IPCC
|
