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Limiting fossil fuel production as the next big step in climate policy

This paper finds that California could reduce global emissions substantially if it joined a growing list of governments that limit oil production.

Peter Erickson, Michael Lazarus, Georgia Piggot / Published on 26 November 2018

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Citation

Erickson, P., Lazarus, M. and Piggot, G. (2018). Limiting fossil fuel production as the next big step in climate policy. Nature Climate Change, online 26 November 2018. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0337-0

Despite the current ambivalence of the United States towards the Paris Agreement, national and local jurisdictions across the globe remain committed, and they are seeking ways to increase the ambition and effectiveness of their climate policies.

One way forwards could be limiting the production — not just the consumption — of coal, gas and oil.

Here we describe the rationale for, and CO2 emissions implications of, limiting oil production. Seven countries have recently imposed such limits, and we develop a case study for a potential addition to this group, the US state of California. We find that by ceasing the issuance of permits for new oil wells, California could reduce global CO2 emissions substantially and also enhance environmental justice in the state.

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SEI authors

Peter Erickson

SEI Affiliated Researcher

SEI US

Michael Lazarus
Michael Lazarus

Center Director

SEI US

Profile picture of Georgia Piggot
Georgia Piggot

SEI Affiliated Researcher

SEI US

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Topics and subtopics
Climate : Climate policy, Fossil fuels
Related centres
SEI US
Regions
California

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