clearing the air

The report critiques carbon trading as a high-risk distraction that allows developed nations to avoid domestic emissions reductions and undermines the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. It proposes a comprehensive package of alternatives, including a global feed-in tariff for renewable energy, a transition to small-scale sustainable agriculture, and the implementation of common industrial standards for best available technology. To fund these transitions and support developing countries, the report suggests generating at least US$420 billion per year through a global financial transaction tax, cracking down on tax evasion, redirecting fossil-fuel producer subsidies, issuing new Special Drawing Rights, and implementing carbon and energy taxes.

• Carbon trading is characterized as a high-risk and irresponsible primary tool for tackling climate change that distracts from more effective solutions and burdens developing countries with unfair responsibility.
• The European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has failed to drive necessary emissions reductions, with EU-wide emissions actually increasing by 38 million tonnes CO2e during its first phase (2005-07).
• A global feed-in tariff programme requiring US$100 billion annual investment over 15 years could make renewable energy the universal default choice by reducing technology costs.
• Transitioning to small-scale, sustainable agriculture and reducing global demand for meat and dairy products can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration and reduced fossil-fuel use.
• To prevent 'carbon leakage' and offshoring, the report advocates for an international agreement on common standards for the best available technology and a relaxation of intellectual property rights.
• The report identifies five primary sources of climate finance that could collectively provide at least US$420 billion per year for developing countries.
• A global financial transaction tax on cross-border transactions could generate US$400 billion in government revenue, with US$100 billion potentially dedicated to climate finance.
• Redirecting global fossil-fuel producer subsidies, estimated at US$67 billion annually from Annex I countries, would provide significant climate finance with minimal impact on ordinary citizens in developed nations.
• New allocations of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the IMF of approximately US$100 billion per year could be issued for climate finance without causing inflation.
• Tax avoidance in Europe was estimated to be between 2% and 2.25% of European GDP, amounting to €236-266 billion in 2009.

APA

clifton, S.-J. (2010). clearing the air. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/clearing_air.pdf

Chicago

clifton, sarah-Jayne. clearing the air. Friends of the Earth International, 2010. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/clearing_air.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=clifton |first1=sarah-Jayne |title=clearing the air |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=November 2010 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/clearing_air.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clifton2010clearing, author = {clifton, sarah-Jayne}, title = {{clearing the air}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2010}, month = nov, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/clearing_air.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }