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Behn, Daniel --- "Linking Climate Change Mitigation and Poverty Reduction: Continued Reform of the Clean Development Mechanism in the Post-Kyoto Era to Promote Sustainable Energy Development on the African Continent" [2012] ELECD 657; in Le Bouthillier, Yves; Cohen, Alfie Miriam; Gonzalez Marquez, Juan Jose; Mumma, Albert; Smith, Susan (eds), "Poverty Alleviation and Environmental Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012)

Book Title: Poverty Alleviation and Environmental Law

Editor(s): Le Bouthillier, Yves; Cohen, Alfie Miriam; Gonzalez Marquez, Juan Jose; Mumma, Albert; Smith, Susan

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781003282

Section: Chapter 13

Section Title: Linking Climate Change Mitigation and Poverty Reduction: Continued Reform of the Clean Development Mechanism in the Post-Kyoto Era to Promote Sustainable Energy Development on the African Continent

Author(s): Behn, Daniel

Number of pages: 21

Extract:

13. Linking climate change mitigation
and poverty reduction: continued
reform of the clean development
mechanism in the post-Kyoto era to
promote sustainable energy
development on the African
Continent
Daniel Behn

13.1 INTRODUCTION

There is concern from a human development perspective that demands to
reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will unjustly deprive devel-
oping countries of the same opportunities for industrialization already
afforded to the developed world. Humanitarians argue that such a limitation
could inequitably deny the developing world from achieving the economic
development needed to free its populations from extreme poverty. Yet choices
to eradicate extreme poverty or solve the global climate change problem need
not be mutually exclusive.
Central to both pursuits is the access to, and use of, energy in all of its
forms. The links between human development and access to energy are well-
documented.1 Equally documented are the links between fossil fuel
consumption and the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmos-
phere.2 One way to pursue both objectives is through global policies that
encourage the development of sustainable energy in the developing world.
This is particularly important on the African continent where access to
energy is limited and extreme poverty is widespread.3 In compelling human-
ity to embrace such an approach, an opportunity has emerged in the twenty-
first century to both eradicate extreme poverty and stabilize the planet that
we collectively inhabit.
There are internationally agreed upon targets for extreme poverty reduc-
tions and GHG emission reductions: ...