Climate Change, Energy and Transport

Recent phenomenal growth in energy and transport use has led to more pollution, resource depletion, congestion, and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which all contribute to climate change. The OECD analyses policies and their impacts on the environment and the economy.

What's new

The Road to Mexico: Strategies and Vehicles for successful climate change negotiations 2010

03-Feb-2010

After the Copenhagen Accord, the world needs to find an ambitious and legally-binding global agreement on climate change in Mexico, said Mr Gurría during a workshop on climate change organised by the European Union. He added that the EU should continue to play a leading role for the negotiations.

Globalisation, Transport and the Environment (2010)

20-Jan-2010

This new publication looks in detail at how globalisation affects activity levels in maritime shipping, aviation, and road and rail freight; assesses the impact that changes in activity levels have on the environment; and discusses policy instruments that can be used to address negative environmental impacts.

OECD Secretary-General looks beyond Copenhagen

23-Dec-2009

“Though far from perfect, the Copenhagen Accord is a hard-fought political agreement. With most countries likely to sign, it is a breakthrough towards collective international action to limit global emissions and help build cleaner, more resilient economies”, said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría.

Tackling climate change and growing the economy

17-Dec-2009

During a press briefing at the Copenhaguen summit, Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary General, shared OECD recent analysis and the main policy conclusions on climate change. He presented what needs to be done in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and how investment in a greener future can be financed without impacting the competitiveness of our economies.

Cities matter to the global climate policy agenda

17-Dec-2009

Today, the OECD is actively working with governments to highlight the role of cities to deliver cost-effective policy responses to climate change. Cities are centers of innovation and can advance clean energy systems, sustainable transportation and waste management to reduce greenhouse gases.

OECD participates in COP15 Copenhagen UN Climate Change Talks

from 07-Dec-2009 to 18-Dec-2009

The impact of climate change on our environment, our economies and our security is the defining issue of our era. OECD is at the forefront of climate change analysis, promoting environmentally and economically rational policies related to adaptation, mitigation, technology, financing and development. The OECD will be present in several ways at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 7-18 December 2009.

Promoting Biodiversity Co-Benefits in REDD

30-Nov-2009

This report examines how biodiversity co-benefits in REDD can be enhanced, both at the design and implementation level. It discusses potential biodiversity implications of different REDD design options that have been put forward in the international climate change negotiations and proceeds by examining how the creation of additional biodiversity-specific incentives could be used to complement a REDD mechanism, so as to target biodiversity benefits directly (OECD Environment Working Papers).

Financing Climate Change Action: Key messages and recommendations from recent OECD work

17-Nov-2009

The OECD is ready to assist countries in their efforts to find lasting solutions to finance action on climate change, building on the long-standing work of the organisation to share country experiences and identify lessons learnt and policy recommendations for good practice.

Border taxes on carbon are inefficient and costly, says OECD Secretary-General

06-Nov-2009

Based on fears that the competitiveness of their domestic industries will be undermined by weak greenhouse gas emission reduction pledges from developing country trading partners, developed countries are calling for border taxes on carbon. But these fears are often exaggerated, and posturing over border taxes diverts attention away from the fundamental need for broad participation in a climate agreement, according to an op-ed by the OECD Secretary-General published in the Financial Times: "Carbon has no place in global trade rules".

OECD side events at Barcelona Climate Change Talks, 2-6 November

06-Nov-2009

The OECD hosted two side events at the Climate Change Talks in Barcelona -- the last UNFCCC sessions before COP15 Copenhagen. 1. "Financing for Enhanced Climate Change Action: Mitigation and Adaptation" was organised by climate change experts from the Environment and Development Co-operation directorates; 2. “Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Climate Change” was co-hosted by ITU, OECD and GeSI.

OECD’s Gurría welcomes UK government climate change map

22-Oct-2009

Widespread drought, falling agricultural production and rising sea levels are just some of the devastating effects of climate change graphically illustrated in a new map produced by UK government’s Meteorological Office.

Climate change: the biggest threat to economic recovery

15-Oct-2009

After a year of pain and pessimism, we are starting to see signs of an economic recovery. Green shoots are sprouting. Governments' bold economic and financial actions of over the past year are beginning to take effect.

IEA Ministerial Meeting 2009 - Responding to energy challenges in partnership

from 14-Oct-2009 to 15-Oct-2009

How can governments best ensure energy security and sustainable energy supplies? What steps are necessary to improve energy efficiency, promote low-carbon technologies and achieve challenging climate change targets? How can these challenges be addressed by both IEA countries and other key energy producing and consuming nations? Energy ministers from the 28 IEA member countries will convene in Paris to share views on these key energy and environment challenges facing the world today.

How the energy sector can deliver on a climate agreement in Copenhagen

08-Oct-2009

This special excerpt of the World Energy Outlook 2009, released at the Bangkok UNFCCC meeting in advance of the COP15 summit in Copenhaguen, sets out the latest greenhouse-gas emissions trends, updated in light of the financial crisis, as well as detailing a pathway for the energy sector to achieve a transition to a low-carbon world.

Mitigation in developed countries

25-Sep-2009

In his remarks to the informal ministerial meeting on climate change, Mr. Gurría, OECD Secretary-General, underlined that the difficult part is working out what exactly is a “fair share” of GHG mitigation in order to reach a successful agreement in Copenhagen.

Launch of the OECD publication "The Economics of Climate Change Mitigation: Policies and Options for Global Action Beyond 2012"

18-Sep-2009

Against the background of a projected doubling of world greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, this  book explores feasible ways to abate them at least cost. Through quantitative analysis, it addresses key policy issues to support countries in developing and implementing an ambitious, cost-effective, equitable and comprehensive approach to global climate change mitigation.

Climate change is the greatest collective challenge that we have ever faced says OECD’s Gurría

18-Sep-2009

Climate change is the greatest collective challenge that we have ever faced and the world needs a significant reduction in global emissions from current levels. Many developed countries have already committed to reduce GHG emissions in the near-term, but the targets must be more ambitious. At the COP15 Conference in Copenhagen, we have a unique opportunity to address this threat but many questions still remain without answers, according to the OECD Secretary-General.

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Climate Change Talks

The OECD at COP15