Aviation and climate change

International climate policy is formulated amidst strong, often opposing forces. On the one hand, there is a demand for climate policy that is effective, efficient, and leading to a level playing field for international economic competition. This claim usually leads to the advocacy of market- based instruments, which are introduced worldwide and affect everyone equally.

On the other hand, there is a demand for climate policy which recognizes the special responsibilities of the industrialized countries to combat climate change, and respects the priority needs of developing countries for the achievement of sustained economic growth and the eradication of poverty. In principle, both demands could be reconciled by a transfer of funds from the developed to the developing world. Such a solution, however, obviously leads to new advocates and opponents.