Description
The Triptych approach is a method to share emission allowances among a group of countries, based on sectoral considerations. The approach can theoretically be applied to any group of countries.
The Triptych approach originally distinguished three broad emission sectors: the power sector, the sector of energy-intensive industries and the 'domestic' sectors (e.g. residential and transport emissions). The selection of these sectors was based on a number of differences in national circumstances raised in the negotiations that are relevant to emissions and emission reduction potentials: differences in standard of living, in fuel mix for the generation of electricity, in economic structure and the competitiveness of internationally-oriented industries. The approach was later extended to include also include deforestation and emissions of methane and nitrous oxide.
The emissions of the sectors are treated differently: For electricity production and industrial production, a growth in the physical production is assumed together with an improvement in production efficiency. This takes into account the need for economic development. For the ‘domestic’ sectors, convergence of per-capita emissions is assumed. This takes into account the converging living standard of the countries.
The allowances of the sectors are added up to a fixed national allowance for each country. Only one national target per country is proposed, no sectoral targets, to allow countries the flexibility to pursue any cost-effective emission reduction strategy.
The Triptych approach was originally developed at the University of Utrecht to share the emission allowances of the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol within the European Union.
Further Research:
Utrecht University
Ecofys
RIVM
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