Tools for the consideration of future international action

In the list below, computer tools can be found that can be instructive when considering future international action on climate change

• Framework to Asses International Regimes for differentiation of commitments (FAIR)
  This decision-support tool was developed with the aim of assisting policy makers in evaluating different options for differentiation of future commitments at the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), in The Netherlands. FAIR is an interactive - scanner-type - computer model that can be used to explore a range of alternative options for international differentiation of commitments in a quantitative way and link these to targets for global climate protection. It is available for download at the FAIR web site.

• Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT)
  The World Resources Institute (WRI) has developed a Climate Indicators Analysis Tool (CAIT) for viewing a variety of indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, cumulative emissions, GDP and other economic and natural factors for all countries of the world. Trend can be shown and countries can be compared. WRI's vision is to have this Tool serve as a common platform for government officials, advocates, and other observers to undertake quantitative analysis relevant to decisions under the UNFCCC. The tool is available for download at the CAIT web site.

• Contraction and Convergence options by GCI
  The Global Commons Institute (GCI) has developed an excel model to calculate its Contraction and Convergence approach. The contraction and convergence scheme provides a framework for a smooth transition to a low level of CO2 emissions from human activity. After defining a global budget (contraction), a second step (convergence) defines allocations to each country. The tool assumes that each country is assigned annual allowances which vary, per capita, linearly, starting from actual values in 2000 and converging to a common level of per-capita emissions in a target year. The package is expected to be completed with an emissions-trading mechanism and with a governance framework including penalties for non-compliance. The tool is available for download at the GCIs web site.

• Java Climate Model
  This interactive climate model lets you explore the climate system simply by moving controls with your mouse and observing the effect instantly on plots ranging from greenhouse gas emissions to global impacts. The calculation methods are based on those used in the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Third Assessment Report, implemented efficiently in the java language to work within your web browser.

• MAGICC
  MAGICC (Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse-gas Induced Climate Change) was developed in cooperation of the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, Norwich UK and The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, USA. MAGICC is a set of coupled gas-cycle, climate and ice-melt models that allows determining the global-mean temperature and sea-level consequences of user-specified emissions scenarios. MAGICC is developed a) to compare the implications of a "policy" emissions scenario with a "reference" scenario, in order to see how effective a particular emissions control policy is relative to a base-line "no policy" case and b) to determine the sensitivity of results to model parameter changes. The model can be obtained from the developers.

• PRECIS
  PRECIS (Providing REgional Climates for Impacts Studies)is a downscaling tool for adding regional detail to climate projections from global models. It was developed to improve the impacts community's access to high-resolution climate change scenarios. At PRECIS's core is a regional climate model developed by the UK Met Office’s Hadley Centre. It can be configured easily for any region of the globe and run on a PC. The PRECIS system is supplied to users in conjunction with a workshop designed to teach them how to successfully use PRECIS and to understand the uncertainties and limitations of climate simulations. PRECIS's main target user group are non-Annex 1 nations wanting to produce national communications for the UNFCCC process. Workshops are free to these users and are organised for groups of countries in a given region, promoting collaboration and making the best use of local expertise. The PRECIS system is available to other countries but a fee is charged for the workshops and some restrictions apply to the use of the results.