The issue of climate change is now widely recognised as one of the major challenges for mankind in the 21st century, not only because it may ultimately affect many areas of our environment, nature and human activity but also because its mitigation may have far reaching consequences for almost all sectors of the economy where energy conversion takes place. Although climate change is firmly positioned on the political agenda and some initial targets have been agreed within a global framework, we are still far away from a mature political and practical policy which may deliver timely and...

* Focusing on climate change policy after the first Kyoto commitment period ending in 2012, this special issue of the journal Climate Policy examines long-term strategy and the implications for stakeholders and the environment
* International experts offer detailed policy analysis and review the links between policy and economics, sustainable development, technology, and adaptation
* An invaluable and insightful source of information on long-term thinking on climate change

This publication addresses the following key questions: What long-term...

This special issue of the Climate Policy journal outlines the fundamentals of the new European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), assesses the strategies for and impact of implementation and highlights the scheme's potential, including positive aspects and remaining hurdles. The EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is the first international trading scheme for CO2 in the world. Its aim is to reduce the cost of compliance to existing targets under the Kyoto Protocol. From 1st January 2005, companies in high-energy sectors covered by the scheme must limit their CO2 emissions to allocated levels,...

This special issue of Climate Policy journal examines the impacts on the competitiveness and the commercial incentives available from the CO2 allowance allocations under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, and discusses appropriate allocation methodologies, and whether - and if so at what stage - the ETS itself may need to be amended. The study is multidisciplinary, combining economic, legal and policy analysis, with specific studies of impacts on electricity, cement and other industrial sectors and allocation issues. It brings together the results of research conducted over the past two years...

This volume examines issues surrounding the allocation of allowances in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the implications for Phase II of this hugely important programme.

Meeting targets aimed at tackling the climate change challenge requires moving towards a low-carbon economy. These targets can only be met with major reductions in carbon emissions from the electricity sector. Written by a team of leading academics and industry experts, Delivering a Low Carbon Electricity System analyses the social, technological, economic and political issues that affect the attempt to create a low-carbon electricity sector and assesses the main instruments for achieving this aim. The book begins by looking at how low-carbon generation technologies might be added in...

This text considers whether the liberalization of trade is compatible with the efforts of industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse emissions. It examines the strains and conflicts between these two international goals and focuses on the effects of the UN convention on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol, specifically: their implications for levels of trade, potential restrictions on trade and implications for the World Trade Organization regime of emissions trading. The author also looks at the implications of energy efficiency standards and energy taxes for international trade.

Complying with the forthcoming tightening of CO2 emission allocations in the EU may mean big bills for the industries affected. Leading experts examine the impacts on competitiveness and the commercial incentives available from the CO2 allowance allocations under the methodologies, and whether - and if so at what stage - the ETS itself may need to be amended. The study is multidisciplinary, combining economic, legal and policy analysis with specific studies of impacts on electricity, cement and other industrial sectors and the allocation issues.

This volume examines issues surrounding the allocation of allowances in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the implications for Phase II of this hugely important programme.