This book describes guidelines prepared by the U.S. Country Studies Program for the evaluation of options to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Country Studies Program developed these guidelines in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to provide developing countries and countries with economies in transition with reference materials for national mitigation assessments. Over 50 countries participating in the program have used the guidelines, which have been refined to reflect their comments. The guidelines delineate a step-wise methodology for evaluating greenhouse gas mitigation options for the energy and non-energy sectors and describe the applications of common analytical tools. The U.S. Country Studies Program uses these guidelines in conjunction with intensive training workshops and follow up technical assistance during the lifetime of each country's study. The program uses similar reference materials to assist counties with their greenhouse gas emission inventories and evaluations of climate change vulnerability and adaptive responses. These guidelines serve three purposes: to assist countries in making decisions about the scope and methodology for mitigation assessments; to provide countries with guidance and step-by-step instructions on each element of a mitigation assessment; and to help countries determine which analytical tools are best suited to their needs and describe procedures for applying these tools. This book describes the application of the most common and readily available methods and analytical tools. Countries are encouraged, where appropriate, to use their own methods."

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) was jointly established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Envir- ment Programme (UNEP) to assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change. Since its inception the IPCC has produced a series of comprehensive - sessment Reports, Special Reports and Technical Papers on the state of the und- standing of causes of climate change, its potential impacts, and options for response strategies. In 1998, Working Group III (WG III) of the ongoing Third Assessment was charged by the IPCC Plenary to assess the scientific, technical, environmental, economic and social aspects of the mitigation of climate change and a series of cross-cutting issues such as equity, development and sustainability. Its mandate was changed from a predominantly disciplinary assessment of the economic and social dimensions of climate change in the Second Assessment Report to an interdisciplinary assessment of the options to control the emissions of greenhouse gases and/or enhance their sinks. One key issue of the IPCC Third Assessment Report (TAR) on mitigation of climate change, which has undergone an extensive review by scientists and governments, is the role of present and future behaviour of individuals, households, private and p- lic companies, public authorities and other stakeholders.

Developing countries recognize the importance of their future role in responding to the uncertainty posed by global climate change through appropriate technical, institutional, and policy measures. The ongoing global negotiations are now in a critical phase. A comprehensive assessment and understanding of issues relevant to developing countries, such as greenhouse gas emissions inventories, contribution of developing countries to greenhouse gas emissions, projected climate change, impacts of climate change on the ecosystems and developing economies, mitigation opportunities, and potential socio-economic implications for developing countries, is necessary in order to address the emerging climate change.

This book presents the alternative perspectives of developing countries on opportunities to benefit from the current and emerging global negotiations, institutions, and mechanisms to address climate change. Analyses show that the developing countries, with appropriate policy and institutional responses, could benefit from the global programs for mitigating the climate change. A comprehensive and simplified guide to assist negotiators and policy makers from developing countries, as well as researchers, is provided.

The unique feature of this book is that it provides a comprehensive coverage of different issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation analysis, impacts and adaptation, policy options, emerging global institutions and mechanisms, and alternative perspectives of developing countries.

The book provides basic information, analysis, and interpretation of various aspects relevant to climate change and will be a valuable asset to researchers, negotiators, policymakers, and environmental groups engaged in the analysis and discussion of climate change.

Developing countries recognize the importance of their future role in responding to the uncertainty posed by global climate change through appropriate technical, institutional, and policy measures. The ongoing global negotiations are now in a critical phase. A comprehensive assessment and understanding of issues relevant to developing countries, such as greenhouse gas emissions inventories, contribution of developing countries to greenhouse gas emissions, projected climate change, impacts of climate change on the ecosystems and developing economies, mitigation opportunities, and potential socio-economic implications for developing countries, is necessary in order to address the emerging climate change.

This book presents the alternative perspectives of developing countries on opportunities to benefit from the current and emerging global negotiations, institutions, and mechanisms to address climate change. Analyses show that the developing countries, with appropriate policy and institutional responses, could benefit from the global programs for mitigating the climate change. A comprehensive and simplified guide to assist negotiators and policy makers from developing countries, as well as researchers, is provided.

The unique feature of this book is that it provides a comprehensive coverage of different issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation analysis, impacts and adaptation, policy options, emerging global institutions and mechanisms, and alternative perspectives of developing countries.

The book provides basic information, analysis, and interpretation of various aspects relevant to climate change and will be a valuable asset to researchers, negotiators, policymakers, and environmental groups engaged in the analysis and discussion of climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) was jointly established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Envir- ment Programme (UNEP) to assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change. Since its inception the IPCC has produced a series of comprehensive - sessment Reports, Special Reports and Technical Papers on the state of the und- standing of causes of climate change, its potential impacts, and options for response strategies. In 1998, Working Group III (WG III) of the ongoing Third Assessment was charged by the IPCC Plenary to assess the scientific, technical, environmental, economic and social aspects of the mitigation of climate change and a series of cross-cutting issues such as equity, development and sustainability. Its mandate was changed from a predominantly disciplinary assessment of the economic and social dimensions of climate change in the Second Assessment Report to an interdisciplinary assessment of the options to control the emissions of greenhouse gases and/or enhance their sinks. One key issue of the IPCC Third Assessment Report (TAR) on mitigation of climate change, which has undergone an extensive review by scientists and governments, is the role of present and future behaviour of individuals, households, private and p- lic companies, public authorities and other stakeholders.