Climate Change

Global climate change is one of the key concerns of the 21st century, with serious implications for economies, societies and the environment. A central challenge is the integration of climate policy objectives into other sectoral policy areas. For a general overview of OECD work on climate change, download the booklet .

OECD work on climate change - listed by work area. Bookmark this page: www.oecd.org/env/cc

What's new

Green Cities: New Approaches to Confronting Climate Change

from 11-Jun-2009 to 12-Jun-2009

The OECD organised a joint workshop with the Las Palmas Municipality, Gran Canaria, Spain. The workshop explored practical tools city officials can use to fight climate change and catalyse their economies.

OECD participation in UN Climate Change Talks in Bonn

05-Jun-2009

The OECD actively participated in the UN "Climate Change Talks Bonn" held 1-12 June 2009. On 9 June, the OECD side event "Building a global carbon market: how to achieve cost-effective GHG reductions and generate financing" took place. On 8 June it held a side event on "Building bridges: NAMAs, registries and mitigation support in the post-2012 framework" with panelists from the UK, Saudi Arabia, Korea, the European Commission, Australia, OECD and IEA.

New OECD-IEA work to support the UN climate change negotiations leading up to COP-15

05-Jun-2009

The OECD-IEA "Annex I Expert Group" released 3 new analytical reports on the post-2012 climate change framework currently being negotiated by the UN in the lead-up to COP15 Copenhagen: a) “Greenhouse gas mitigation actions: Measurement Reporting & Verification issues and options”; b) “Linking Mitigation Actions with Mitigation Support in Developing Countries: A Conceptual Framework”; and c) "Sectoral Approaches and the Carbon Market" considers the carbon market aspects of sectoral approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.

The economics of climate change mitigation: how to build the necessary global action in a cost-effective manner

05-Jun-2009

This paper outlines key steps towards the development of a single international carbon price -- including phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, and expanding and linking regional carbon markets through direct linking of existing emission trading systems, scaled-up CDM, use of sectoral crediting mechanisms, and incorporation of the forest sector. It examines the incentives for action, including possible financing flows to support action in developing countries.

On 28-29 May 2009, the OECD hosted a High Level Meeting on Environment and Development

29-May-2009

Decision makers discussed key issues related to adaptation to climate change, water supply and sanitation, as well as capacity development for environmental management and low-carbon development paths. Two documents were endorsed in the course of the meeting: A Policy Statement and a Policy Guidance on Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Development Co-operation. Last, but not least, the meeting laid out an ambitious, forward looking agenda for deepening the partnership between the environment and development communities (see also Co-Chairs' Summary).

Conference on “ICTs, the environment and climate change”

from 27-May-2009 to 28-May-2009

On 27-28 May 2009, the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation hosted a high-level OECD conference on the potential of information and communication technologies to combat climate change and improve environmental performance. Live webcast and Twitter feed available. Internet users had the possibility to send in questions for speakers.

OECD side events at UN Climate Change sessions in Bonn, March-April 2009

07-Apr-2009

OECD held two side events at the UN Climate Change sessions in Bonn. The first, on 31 March, addressed critical questions for the post-2012 climate framework, including mitigation support and finance, and how to ensure mitigation actions can be “measured, reported, and verified”. The second side-event, on 7 April, looked at critical issues for reaching a post-2012 climate deal, including carbon leakage concerns, incentives for action by all major emitters, and the role of sectoral approaches in the carbon market. New analysis by OECD and IEA was presented at the side events.

Economic Aspects of Adaptation to Climate Change: Integrated Assessment Modelling of Adaptation Costs and Benefits

03-Apr-2009

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions need to move hand in hand with policies and incentives to adapt to the impacts of climate change. This report seeks to inform critical questions with regard to policy mixes of investments in adaptation and mitigation, and how they might vary over time. Adaptation cost curves are estimated for the world, as well as for specific regions. The policy simulations presented in this report show that the costs of inaction are high, and thus it is important to start acting on both mitigation and adaptation now.

Recent OECD Work on Climate Change / Global Warming

20-Jan-2009

The OECD’s objective is to help its member countries prepare for the future by supporting them with sound policy analysis and options to achieve climate change goals in an environmentally-effective and economically-efficient manner. A number of projects are underway to implement this across several OECD Directorates and in the specialised agencies associated with the OECD, such as the IEA and the NEA. This document highlights this work.

Climate Change Mitigation: What Do We Do?

28-Apr-2009

Climate change is a fact of life. We need to act urgently if we are to avoid an irreversible build-up of greenhouse gases and global warming at a potentially huge cost to the economy and society worldwide. The economics of climate change lie at the epicentre of any viable solution. This publication summarises recent OECD analyses, including on the role of technological innovation and the impacts of policies to address carbon leakage. It provides arguments to help explain why postponing decisions is short-sighted.

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