9th Annual IEA-IETA-EPRI Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Workshop

Background

For the 9th consecutive year, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) host their international emissions trading workshop in Paris, on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 September 2009. The workshop will provide an opportunity for government, business and various stakeholders to discuss some of the key issues relating to international climate policy. This year’s workshop will cover topics relevant to a post-2012 agreement in Copenhagen, such as world trade and emissions trading, compliance regimes, carbon markets and investment decisions, the effect of the economic crisis, and opportunities and limitations for the inclusion of forestry activity in the carbon market.

Agenda

Opening Remarks
Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA)
David Lunsford, Policy Leader – Emissions, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)
Tom Wilson, Senior Program Manager, Global Climate Research Program, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

Session 1 - Country Roundtable
This session will consists of brief presentations on regional GHG market developments, setting the stage for two days of more in-depth discussions.
Chair: Rick Bradley (IEA)

Speakers
                 U.S. Federal: Brian McLean, U.S. Environmental Protection
                 Agency (EPA)
                 U.S. Western Climate Initiative: Michael Lazarus, Stockholm
                 Environmental Institute - US (SEI-US)
                 Australia: Steve Hatfield-Dodds, Department of Climate Change
                 South Africa: Wendy Poulton, Eskom

Session 2 – National and international compliance regimes

How will governments use the flexibility mechanisms to ensure compliance under Kyoto Protocol and a future climate regime? How are they organizing themselves for that purpose? What about compliance in domestic emissions trading systems?

Chair: Tom Wilson (EPRI)

Speakers 
                 David Harrison, NERA
                 Andrew Howard, UNFCCC
                 Hisashi Yoshioka, NEDO
                 Benoit Bosquet, World Bank

Session 3 – World trade and emissions trading

Ambitious domestic trading systems have raised competitiveness concerns and, with them, the possibility of border carbon adjustments. This session will explore the pros and cons of such policy instruments, and their compatibility with rules of the World Trade Organisation.

Chair: Richard Baron (IEA)

Speakers
                Ingmar Juergens, European Commission   
                Andrew Shoyer, Sidley Austin LLP
                Susanne Droege, Climate Strategies   
                Joost Pauwelyn, The Graduate Institute

Session 4 – Impact of carbon prices on investment decisions

Have the market mechanisms had noticeable impact on companies’ investment decisions? How is the carbon price supporting investment in cleaner energy sources? Does its role differ in domestic systems and in projects under the CDM?

Chair:  David Lunsford (IETA)

Speakers  
                 Vic Niemeyer, EPRI  
                 Barbara Buchner, IEA  
                 Paul Dawson, RWE  
                 Kirsty Hamilton, Chatham House

Session 5 – Opportunities and Limitations for Crediting Large-Scale REDD Projects in the Near Term (2012-2020)

What would international policy architecture that supports (REDD) in the 2012-2020 timeframe need to look like? What is the appropriate role of private capital and markets to unlock REDD? What is the role for bilateral or multilateral REDD mechanisms on the national level? Do developing countries have the institutional capacity to support large-scale REDD projects, activities, programs and policies? Can project-based approaches be integrated with national baselines?

Chair: Adam Diamant (EPRI)

Speakers
                 Eric Bettelheim, Private Consultant
                 Steve Schwartzman, Environmental Defense Fund  
                 Leslie Durschinger, Terra Global Capital  
                 Eron Bloomgarden, Equator LLC

Session 6 – Markets in a downturn

How is the current economic crisis affecting investment in CDM and similar projects? Supply and demand impacts on pricing. Recent legislative proposals considered in Australia, the US and implications for the Kyoto mechanisms. Low carbon prices; access to capital to finance projects.

Chair:  David Lunsford (IETA)

Speakers
                 Dirk Forrister, Natsource 
                 Marc Stuart, Ecosecurities  
                 Mark Lewis, Deutsche Bank  
                 David Rapin, Bluenext 

Closing Session – Bringing it all together: implications for the carbon market of the agreement coming out of Copenhagen
Facilitator:    Rick Bradley (IEA)

Personal reflections   
                Kunihiko Shimada, Japan
                 Tom Heller, Stanford University/Project Catalyst
                Laurence Tubiana, France

Closing Remarks
                Rick Bradley, IEA      
                David Lunsford, IETA
                Tom Wilson, EPRI