Workshop — Paris, France

16th IEA-IETA-EPRI Annual Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading

Background

The International Energy Agency (IEA), International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) hosted the 16th Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Workshop on October 18-19 in Paris.

Each year this invitation-only workshop brings together over one hundred senior officials from OECD countries, the European Union and other nations, corporate executives from electric companies, energy-intensive industries, brokerage companies and the financial community, analysts and researchers from non-governmental organisations and academia, to discuss developments in GHG emissions trading and related issues around the world. The workshop combines presentations based on recent research with interactive discussions, held under the Chatham House rule. 

AGENDA

Workshop Overview and Introductions

 Kamel Ben Naceur International Energy Agency (IEA)  Dirk Forrister International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) Tom Wilson Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

 

Session 1: Paris Agreement – International trading to achieve and surpass NDCs

The Paris agreement creates new momentum for carbon markets, allowing for voluntary use of international carbon trades toward achievement of (or to go beyond) the national targets set in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This session will unpack provisions relevant to carbon markets in the Paris Agreement, exploring different perspectives on the interpretation and implications of the agreement for bottom-up development of carbon markets.

 Amy Steen UNFCCC  Andrei Marcu Center for Regulation in Europe (CERRE) Kazuhisa Koakutsu Ministry of Environment, Japan David Hone Shell

 

Session 2: Carbon Markets in Asia-Pacific: Updates and Next Steps Post-Paris

This session will explore in detail carbon markets in the Asia-Pacific region, including an update on the status of China’s national ETS implementation (2017) as well as the seven ETS pilots. Presentations will provide a status update of the respective policies, and will be followed by a roundtable discussion on the current challenges each system faces and next steps with respect to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and implementation of the NDCs.

 Xi Liang University of Edinburgh, Scotland  Hyungna Oh Kyung Hee University, Korea Robert Shih YC Consultants, Chinese Taipei Takashi Hongo Mistui Global Strategic Studies Institute, Japan

 

Session 3: European Union Emissions Trading System – Current Challenges and Future Prospects

This session will provide a brief overview of the EU ETS and identify the challenges that need to be addressed in the coming years. The session will explore to what extent the EU ETS, together with other existing market signals, can drive cost‐effective investment in low‐carbon technologies and the gradual phase-out of existing thermal capacity. Presentations will address one or more of these challenges from their perspective.

 Peter Zapfel European Commission, DG CLIMA Trevor Sikorski Energy Aspects Daniele Agostini Enel

 

Session 4: Paris Agreement – Article 6.4 Mechanism

A new market mechanism is to be established by the UNFCCC under Article 6.4 of the Paris agreement, building on experience gained with existing mechanisms including the CDM and JI. This session will explore the expected form of this new mechanism, and the process by which it will be developed.

 Hugh Sealy St. George's University Grenada Karl Upston-Hooper GreenStream Network Stig Schjølset Thomson Reuters Point Carbon Kelley Kizzier European Commission, DG CLIMA

 

Session 5: Aviation Update

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has agreed on a global market-based-measure to offset global aviation emissions beyond 2020 levels. This session will clarify what has been agreed in ICAO, and what the consequences are for aircraft operators, as well as for the demand for offset credits. In addition, the session will discuss the political considerations surrounding this global agreement, in light of the EU’s and other regions’ approaches to covering “domestic” aviation emissions in regional emissions trading systems.

 Michael Gill Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) Reactions from:   Laurence Graff European Commission David Antonioli Verified Carbon Standard

 

Session 6: Evolution of GHG Emissions Trading in North America

Across North America, regional GHG emissions trading programs are rapidly evolving and are expanding their footprint. Will these subnational programmes evolve into larger regional efforts through linking or do they provide the underpinnings of possible national ETS in the coming years? Sub-national efforts to develop and implement GHG markets in Ontario, Manitoba, as well as continued market evolution in CA and the RGGI states will be impacted dramatically in the coming years by the uncertain implementation of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan.  This session will highlight key recent developments in new GHG emissions trading programmes in the United States, Canada and Mexico. 

 Jonas Monast University of North Carolina School of Law John Bistline EPRI Ashley Conrad Saydah California Environmental Protection Agency David Sawyer EnviroEconomics Inc.

 

Session 7: Closing - Linkages and Carbon Clubs

Economic analysis shows benefits and costs to linking carbon markets and developing carbon clubs. This session will discuss the benefits of trading and linking, and the considerations to take into account when linking carbon markets. The panel will share their experiences from around the world on their recommendations and lessons learnt about linking carbon markets or creating regional carbon clubs.

 Steven Rose EPRI Reactions from:   Ingrid Jegou International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) Bianca Sylvester World Bank Henry Derwent Climate Strategies

 

Closing Remarks

 Dirk Forrister IETA Tom Wilson EPRI Dave Turk IEA

 

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