Policy
Green protectionism vs. growth
IPN Opinion article
As world delegates tried in Bonn (9-11 April to revive the climate-change talks that collapsed in Copenhagen, the USA and other rich countries were working on protectionist carbon tariffs that will harm their own economies and harm the poor even more. On top of that, these "border measures" or "adaptation mechanisms" will not even have much effect on emissions.
Green tariffs make no sense
IPN Opinion article
Restricting trade as a climate measure would be counterproductive
Attacking patents halts progress
IPN Opinion article
The UN's latest climate talks, in Accra, heard much talk about waiving patents on 'green', low-carbon and renewable products which will, somehow, magically, help fight climate change. The real barrier to new technology in most developing countries, however, is high tariff barriers ñ and these barriers are generally higher the poorer the country. What is worse, countries that ignore intellectual property rights chase away the foreign investors so badly needed for growth and for the transfer of technology.
Baptists and bootleggers
IPN Opinion article
Thailand's recent decision to "compulsory licence" a number of drugs has been applauded by health activists and "consumer" groups, in a coalition that looks a little like the 'bootleggers and Baptists' of Prohibition days. Except this time, the quality of vital medicines is at stake instead of moonshine.
IPN to Participate In Montreal COP-11 Climate Meeting: 'Global Climate Control Not Cost Effective– Will Undermine Sustainable Development'
IPN Press release
Can Ghana's Parliament Review Its Position on the Kyoto Protocol?
IPN Opinion article
Franklin Cudjoe comments on climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, foreign aid, energy and a number of related issues
‘Development, not global regulation, the soloution to climate change’, says author of new report*
IPN Press release
Save the planet and the third world will pay
IPN Opinion article
Barun Mitra, co-author of Climate change and sustainable development (released 29 November 2004), writes "Not surprisingly, Kyoto does not sound convincing to the world's poor. For what this present debate over climate change has done is to divert attention from the core issue of mankind ó poverty."
Mitra discusses a salient economic lesson from history ó "increased consumption stimulates efforts at improving efficiency, which in turn contributes to conservation, economic and environmental... The Kyoto protocol seeks to reverse this relationship by focusing on reducing consumption through punitive taxes and so on, which will not ultimately help conservation goals."
