Energy Efficiency Green Paper

EU emission trading scheme “a cost-effective mechanism�

The Green Paper asks about the harnessing of emission trading to promote energy efficiency. Stavros Dimas, the EC Member responsible for the Environment, described the EU scheme, which started on January 1st 2005, as one of the flagship policies of the European Climate Change Programme at the Montreal COP/MOP conference in December.

He reported that it is already showing results as a cost-effective mechanism. So far, some 230 million tonnes of CO2 have been traded, worth 3 to 4 billion Euros. He also stated that the EU is still on target to meet the 2010 EU Kyoto target, with emissions of the EU-15 Member States 9.3%, and the EU-25 11.3% below 1990 levels.

Add comment January 11th, 2006

Carbon Trading & Energy Efficiency

In this web event today, Tudor Constantinescu from the Energy Charter Secretariat gives an overview of carbon trading mechanisms and their link to energy efficiency. Mostly, carbon trading facilitates supply-side efficiency projects. Demand-side efficiency projects find it hard to compete, and there are few success stories. Bundling mechanisms for small-scale projects should be explored as an avenue.

Add comment November 8th, 2005