Carbon Emissions

The EU’s emissions trading scheme (ETS), which was launched in 2005, is central to the European Union’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It provides a marketplace for buying and selling emissions trading rights. By setting a price for CO2 emissions, the scheme is intended to establish the most cost-effective way of lowering emissions and encouraging investment in low carbon technologies. So how is the ETS working and does it needs a major overhaul? What is the impact of including additional sectors such as airlines and shipping in the scheme on efforts to cut CO2 emissions and what are the possible political consequences? What is the importance of the ETS in maintaining the EU’s global leadership role in combating climate change?

Discussion: What impact did COP17 in Durban have on carbon prices?

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Live Debate: EU Emissions Trading Scheme: fit for purpose?

Programme: The European Emissions Trading System – 2020 & beyond

Programme: After Copenhagen, the next steps

Launched 2005, the EU Emissions Trading System is designed to help member states achieve their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, allowing participating organizations and states to buy-and-sell emissions allowances as they need.

But the recent lull in manufacturing and therefore demand for power in the wake of the global financial crisis has created a false reduction in emissions since 2008 that can only rise as the economy re-starts – and this has driven down the price of carbon traded on the open market as credits remain unused.

Now approaching its third phase, what impact has the ETS had in Europe to date?

Discussion: Is Europe’s Emissions Trading Scheme effective?

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Discussion: If adoption of Carbon Capture and Storage is urgent, then why isn't it happening faster?

Live Debate: Mutual dependence: securing Europe’s energy supply

Discussion: After COP 15, who or what will drive the push towards developing clean energy?

The world will continue to rely on fossil fuel to supply the bulk of its energy for decades to come. So, finding ways to reduce the carbon emissions that come from burning these fuels is a major challenge that must be addressed.
An important opportunity for reducing these emissions is through the introduction of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.

How can we?
There are various technologies already in use to capture the CO2, however implementing CCS on a global scale presents significant challenges in its own right.

Speeding up installation, reducing cost, creating an effective transport infrastructure and overcoming community resistance to local storage facilities are all priorities that need to be addressed.

If adoption of Carbon Capture and Storage is urgent, then why isn’t it happening faster?

Discussion: If adoption of Carbon Capture and Storage is urgent, then why isn't it happening faster?

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Discussion: Carbon capture and storage: don't ask questions, just do it now?

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Live Debate - Putting carbon capture and storage into motion

Live Debate - Can carbon capture and storage help the world deal with climate change?

With the dynamics, the consequences and the solutions regarding climate change subject to fierce ongoing debate, this month’s Comment Visions gets an expert’s perspective on the issues.

An international authority on the polar regions and a distinguished glaciologist and climatologist, Dr. Olav Orheim has been researching the polar regions for more than 30 years. He has visited the Arctic 50 times and made 18 field trips to the Antarctic. Dr. Orheim has seen up close the effects of climate change, having spent over two decades as the Director of Research at Norway’s Polar Research Institute. He was made a Knight of the Order of St. Olaf in 2007 for his services to polar research.

With the future extent of climate change as yet unknown the search for political and practical solutions remains vital and Olaf Orheim looks at what can be done to engage with the problem.

Discussion: Carbon Capture and Storage has been proposed as a way to reduce greenhouse gases and slow down global warming, but are there other strategies that could be more effective?

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Live Debate - Putting carbon capture and storage into motion

Live Debate - Can carbon capture and storage help the world deal with climate change?