Policymakers around the world are working out the logistics for the next climate change agreement. Given the international political disparity a binding agreement may be out of reach. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Non-binding climate agreements, like the Kyoto Protocol, have turned out to be most effective in limiting global climate emissions. On average countries reduced emissions more than they initially agreed to. There are two reasons why non-binding agreements work. First, the more binding an agreement is, the less likely a country is to sign it. Secondly, no agreement is that binding, aside from sanctions or going to war there is no other recourse for countries that break binding agreements. Sometimes it is better to leave big decisions like reducing greenhouse gas emissions to individual countries, and let them make the right call on their own.
Non-binding climate agreements work best
More of Today's Solutions
The fight against malaria improves thanks to innovative mosquito bed nets tha...
Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, remains a substantial public health threat, particularly in endemic areas. However, recent trials have produced encouraging results, implying that new ...
Read MoreMongolia signs historic climate finance deal to protect grasslands
Mongolia's government and a coalition of partners signed a pioneering nature financing deal, marking a watershed moment in environmental protection. This historic agreement seeks ...
Read MoreHow to be a better conversationalist
A meaningful conversation is the best way to build a connection with someone, but simply conjuring up such a conversation is not always easy—especially ...
Read MoreHubble takes beautiful image of galaxies “dancing”
The Hubble Space Telescope ventured into space over three decades ago in 1990, and has observed around 50,000 celestial bodies to date. During this ...
Read More
