Introduction (Background)

This chapter explores the potential for sectoral approaches to a post-Kyoto international climate policy framework. A number of sectorbased proposals have already been put forward; they share the concept that instead of the Kyoto-type, top-down approach of negotiating caps on economy-wide emissions for individual countries, a bottom-up approach should be taken in which technology assessments would be used to establish aggregate emission-reduction targets for different sectors of the world economy. Many surveys have been conducted on sectoral approaches and similar architectures (Bodansky 2003; Philibert 2005 and 2005b; The Pew Center 2005; Siikavirta 2006; IPCC 2007).

Sectoral approaches have not only been a subject of in-depth study in the academic community in recent years, they have also attracted growing interest in political circles as an option for multinational negotiations. Reference to a “cooperative sectoral approach” first appeared in the Bali Action Plan; since then, the Japanese government has led the world in developing specific proposals for making this approach the basis for negotiations on a framework to follow the Kyoto Protocol.

This chapter provides an overview of previous findings on sectoral approaches and presents options for using this concept as the basis for a next international climate policy architecture. It differs from previous studies in that it (1) clarifies the role of national governments in making legally binding commitments under international law to adopt domestic policies and measures for achieving sector-based mitigation targets; (2) categorizes emitting sectors into three groups in an effort to simplify and smooth negotiations; and (3) suggests a way forward for proceeding with negotiations.