Document type
ArticleVersion
Accepted versionPublication date
Publication license
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/160797
The political economy of the Paris agreement: Income inequality and climate policy
Journal Title
Director/Tutor
Additional contribution
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
We empirically assess how both between-country inequality and within-country inequality relate to climate policy ambition as defined by NDC pledges of the Paris Agreement (COP21). We exploit the difference between high and low ambition targets submitted by parties to construct a climate policy ambition index. We find that both inequalities shape countries' pledges: First, low income countries tend to be more ambitious in setting their pledges when external support is received. Second, within-country inequality is associated with (i) lower mitigation ambition in low and middle-low-income countries, and with (ii) higher mitigation ambition, although non statistically significant, for upper-high and high-income countries. Our results are discussed in terms of (i) climate policy being a superior good in rich countries, and (ii) elites benefiting from emitting economic activities in poorer countries
Related resource
Subject (English)
Citation
Citation
BEL I QUERALT, Germà and TEIXIDÓ-FIGUERAS, Jordi. The political economy of the Paris agreement: Income inequality and climate policy. Journal Of Cleaner Production. 2020. Vol. 258, num. 121002, pags. 1-13. ISSN 0959-6526. [consulted: 7 of October of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/160797