Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Alcock, Frank

Keywords

Climate Change, Kyoto Protocal, Clean Development Mechanism, HFC-23, HCFC - 22

Area of Concentration

Politcal Science

Abstract

The Clean Development Mechanism (a carbon offset program under the Kyoto Protocol) has been accused of issuing carbon credits that do not represent real reductions to HFC-23 abatement projects at HCFC-22 production facilities. As a highly potent greenhouse gas, HFC-23 abatement creates a large amount of credits under a proportional issuance system. This potentially creates a perverse incentive to increase HCFC-22 production or the HFC-23/HCFC-22 ratio for the sole purpose of generation carbon credits. This study uses a variety of market data, reported production data, and preexisting reports to draw detailed conclusions regarding the behavior of each of the nineteen HCFC-22 production facilities certified for credit issuance for HFC-23 abatement practices. Doing so, the study finds that all nineteen plants certified for CDM credit issuance for the abatement of HFC-23 have exhibited signs of behavioral responses to the aforementioned perverse incentive. The study concludes by recommending a way forward for HFC-23 abatement crediting under the CDM in light of recent policy responses (or the lack thereof).

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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