The Kyoto Treaty sets limits on the greenhouse gas emissions of most of the industrialized countries, but those limits expire in 2012. Then what? A world conference (COP11/MOP1) in Montreal, Canada, from Nov. 28 through Dec. 9, 2005,  is to consider next steps. One basic question is whether to proceed with more emissions limits or move to an altogether different kind of regulation. An alternative is to set goals in terms of emissions intensity, defined as the ratio of emissions to economic output.

A related question for Montreal is how to bring the big developing countries into the regime to control emissions. While the United States, Europe, and other industrialized nations, currently produce most of the world total of emissions, the rate of rise is much faster in some of the developing countries, particularly China. The developing countries generally refuse to accept emissions limits, which they see as potential constraints on their economic growth. Emissions intensity goals, in contrast, would be a tool for pushing fuel efficiency up.

International talks are also going forward outside the Kyoto process. In July 2005 the G-8 -- a group of industrialized countries, including seven parties to Kyoto plus the United States -- met at Gleneagles, Scotland, and agreed that "we know enough to act now" to slow the rise in greenhouse emissions. They declared that they would work together, "in partnership with major emerging economies," to reduce emissions. The heads of five big developing countries, including China and India, were present at the conference. The Gleneagles initiative was designed to move beyond the quarrels over mandatory emissions limits, and to address both energy needs and the resulting emissions in the developing countries.

		A U.S. Perspective on Future Climate Regimes William A. Pizer 07-04 | February 2007   Senior Fellow Billy Pizer address the building momentum for federal climate change policy in the United States and how this may impact international negotiations.
		International Technology-Oriented Agreements to Address Climate Chang Heleen de Coninck, Carolyn Fischer, Richard G. Newell, and Takahiro Ueno 06-50 | January 2007 Helen de Coninck et al explore what TOAs may consist of, why they might be sensible, which TOAs already exist in international energy and environmental governance, and whether they have the potential to make a valuable contribution to addressing climate change.
		Nairobi and the World’s Next Steps to Cut Greenhouse Emissions J.W. Anderson Weathervane Commentary November 13, 2006 RFF Journalist-in-Residence J.W. Anderson assesses the tentative outcomes of the recent UN Framework on Climate Change Conference
		The Kyoto Placebo Ruth Greenspan Bell Issues in Science and Technology December 2005 RFF Resident Scholar Ruth Greenspan Bell argues that relying so heavily on the flexible mechanisms created by the Kyoto Protocol to control greenhouse gas emissions in the developing world is highly unrealistic..
		How Climate Policy Developed: A Short History J.W. Anderson RFF Backgrounder November 2005
		Is There A Role for the United States to Play in Future Climate Negotiations? Maybe. Raymond J. Kopp Resources, Spring 2005
		Can an Effective Global Climate Treaty Be Based on Sound Science, Rational Economics, and Pragmatic Politics? Robert N. Stavins Discussion Paper 04-28 May 2004