Charging the Use of Global Commons

The CO2-emissions of international aviation and of shipping are not subject to the quantitative reduction obligations of the Kyoto Protocol. Imposing user charges can close this regulatory gap and induce environment-related incentive effects to reduce environmental damage. Moreover, additional financial resources are generated, which should be earmarked for the protection and conservation of global common goods.
      In this special report, the Council makes recommendations for a politically viable implementation of the concept of global user charges for three specific areas of application:

• Charges on the use of airspace by aviation,
• Charges on the use of the oceans by shipping,
• Payments for non utilisation obligations.

      The Council recommends to deploy the revenues of global user charges as truly additional financial resources for global sustainability policy.

Summary (= Policy Paper 2)
A summary for policymakers has been published under the same title as Policy Paper 2.