The issue of climate change is not only a problem of environment protection, but also a key factor in Sustainable Development. Within the backdrop of international politics, climate change has its political functions too. According to the Kyoto Protocol, Emission credits can be purchased in overseas countries. In this context countries with more advanced technologies in environment protection will be in a better position from the start. States might be divided into four groups by their technology levels, among which international competitions are to be held. The first group comprises the countries of the developed world like the EU and Japan, which already posses the technology to reduce carbon emissions. They have little to lose from the competition, and will gain much from the sale of their technologies to other countries. The second group comprises developed countries with heavy emissions like the U.S. The amount that these countries would have to spend on reducing emissions will lead to an increase in the price of their products and less consumers within the international market. The third group comprises the newly emerging economies, such as India and China. In order reduce emissions these countries will not only have to spend more, but will also have to scale back the pace of their development, forcing them to stay behind developed countries for another century. The fourth group comprises the most underdeveloped countries, like most of the countries of Africa. By combining forces with the first group and by trading in their abundant forest resources, these countries can benefit from the competition too. The situation that emerges will see the EU and Japan climb to a more powerful position with the support of the third world. The U.S on the other hand will likely lose its primacy in the international arena, while India and China will be forced to scale back their developmental aspirations.