Frequently Asked Questions
What is Contraction and Convergence?
Who supports Contraction and Convergence?
Is Contraction and Convergence politically and economically feasible?
What are the aims of the campaign?
What is Contraction and Convergence?
Contraction and Convergence is an emissions reduction framework based on a system of global justice. It starts by defining a global cap on carbon and other green house gas emissions which sees annual emissons contract over time. Having defined this global cap or budget, the right to emit each tonne of this budget is distributed to nation states as emissions entitlements. The mechanism for allocating these entitlements is “convergence“. Annual emissions entitlements are initially distributed proportional to current emissions levels. Over a specified time frame there is a convergence to a distribution of equal per capita emissions entitlements. This allows developing countries to continue to develop, while still requiring them to participate in emissions reduction schemes.
The global annual carbon budget reduces year on year, until global carbon emissions are at a safe level to avoid serious climate change. Contraction & Convergence allows for trade, so those who emit less can sell their emissions to those who lead more carbon-hungry lifestyles.
>> Here is an in depth discussion
Where did the idea come from?
Contraction & Convergence is the brainchild of Aubrey Meyer. He is founder and director of the Global Commons Institute (GCI), an independent group concerned with the protection of the global commons, the common heritage of all humanity.GCI was founded in 1990 after the Second World Climate Conference. Since that time GCI has contributed to the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Aubrey and the GCI have been awarded the Schumacher prize in 2000 and the Andrew Lees memorial prize in 1997, as well as gaining international acclaim for the ideas of Contraction & Convergence.
Who supports Contraction and Convergence?
Five of the seven UK political parties, as well as a number of other significant figures. non-UK supporters (Group of African Nations, governments of India and China). See here for more details.
Is Contraction and Convergence politically and economically feasible?
As Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury commented, “Contraction and Convergence appears utopian only if we refuse to contemplate the alternatives honestly”. The effects of not taking action on climate change would be far more devastating than the temporary effects of Contraction and Convergence. While politicians may be initially unwilling to take the short-term measures needed to implement Contraction and Convergence, most UK politicians now realise that inaction on climate change would be far worse. It is important that voters show politicians that they would support them if they spoke out in favour of Contraction & Convergence.
The same is true of economic effects – as the Stern report to the government in November 2006 made clear, climate change could end up costing the UK between 5% and 20% of GDP if no action is taken. The Munich Re insurance group also calculated in 2004 that the cost of insuring against climate change could be equal to gross global production by 2060.
What are the aims of the campaign?
In the first phase of the campaign, we aim to get:
- An NUS motion in support of C&C
- As many Student Unions motions in support of C&C as possible
- 2000 signatures for the C&C petition to the UK government
- An active web portal
- Supporters writing to their MPs, urging them to act on C&C
Who runs this site?
This site is run by the Climate Justice Project as an online resource to coordinate the campaign, offer online resources, and introduce new people to the information they need…
The site was developed for free by Dimension 10, and is maintained by fireway and smotyn.
