Klimawandel
Carbon Expo: IETA-Chef fordert mehr CDMs
February 2008 was a landmark date for International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). Its former President and CEO Andrei Marcu officially stepped down from his position as top man. The former Director, Climate, Energy and Environmental Risk at the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Henry Derwent, took over the position and responsibility for IETA. Interview done by the CARBON EXPO press team.
29.04.2008
Let us start with your personal journey. This has now led you from a more political side to a more industry-related institution. How would you describe IETA and what are your personal goals?
Henry Derwent: IETA played a crucial part in the setting up of emissions trading internationally. Its the most well established, best-known and most broadly-based business organisation promoting trading. I am convinced that without trading on a global level, the costs of combating climate change will be politically unsustainable, largely because of reactions from business interests in developed countries. I want to play a part in showing that the costs are much lower than they might seem, because there are real business opportunities wherever you look.
The initial trading phase with regard to the attainment of the Kyoto Protocol goals has now been operational since January; a follow-up attainment after Bali is in process. What challenges does emissions trading face to come to a conclusion?
Derwent: Many challenges still need addressing. However, the lessons that we were able to draw from the first phase of the European Union Emissions Trading Schemes (EU ETS) will serve as a valuable experience. That showed emissions trading is an efficient and economically rational mechanism that regulates supply and demand at a specific price, which can be used both nationally and internationally. Now we have to take on the desires and concerns of a wider group of countries and try to create structures together that will provide a framework for trading after 2012. One of the most important preconditions for that is that vital commodity political will; countries must enter into trade that up to now have not participated and that of itself will increase political will.
What are the specific challenges with regards to the different tools CDM and Joint Implementation (JI)?
Derwent: CDM has been an extraordinary success. JI has taken longer to get going, but shows signs of the same growth. CDM is to a large extent the engine by which the economic interest of the developing countries in climate change can be demonstrated. Even if the future sees some countries moving away from project-based targets to sectoral or national caps, CDM-type projects will remain hugely important. Unfortunately the engine is too small at the moment and it still doesnt run fast enough for the task that has to be achieved. So we need to find ways of expanding the CDM mechanism and increasing its efficiency.
By a wider group of countries, you mean the USA and China?
Derwent: Of course the USA and China, too, but also others. The new government in Australia is a good example. Seen from outside, in the USA it appears that all three potential Presidential candidates have spoken out for a national regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. To what extent this will apply, when all is said and done, can only really be seen after the election, but at least there are very positive signals. China is another important key player that has declared its intention to experiment with emissions trading because the country has recognized both the necessity of reducing pollutants including CO2 and the efficiency of trading as an economic tool.
The topic of implementing air traffic and shipping comes up again and again with the issue of the emissions trade after 2012. Is it conceivable that these areas could be integrated by then, or more likely not?
Derwent: There is still a long way to go, and still some technical difficulties to be solved. These emissions were not taken into consideration in the Kyoto Protocol and to this day there are many different parties who do not believe that cap and trade controls are possible or justified. But the quantity of emissions from these sectors will be very large. In order to integrate air traffic and later also shipping into global emissions control, an economically effective structure will have to be created, and there is no reason trading could not be the best basis
What role does the forthcoming event CARBON EXPO (7 to 9 May 2008) play in all this, as the leading global trade fair and conference for international emissions trading, which was jointly launched by IETA, The World Bank and Koelnmesse in 2004?
Derwent: CARBON EXPO, now in its fifth edition, is the largest and most well-known fair and conference to cover the whole of emissions trading EU ETS, regional schemes, Kyoto mechanisms, offsets and the voluntary market. It has established itself as THE global trade fair and conference where companies, buyers, sellers, technology providers, financial service providers and lawyers come together to do business, communicate and transfer knowledger. With more than 2600 participants from about 100 countries and 240 exhibitors, this fifth edition will undoubtedly be the most successful ever.
[Henry Derwent is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Emissions Trading Association, headquarters based in Geneva, Switzerland.]
Henry Derwent: IETA played a crucial part in the setting up of emissions trading internationally. Its the most well established, best-known and most broadly-based business organisation promoting trading. I am convinced that without trading on a global level, the costs of combating climate change will be politically unsustainable, largely because of reactions from business interests in developed countries. I want to play a part in showing that the costs are much lower than they might seem, because there are real business opportunities wherever you look.
The initial trading phase with regard to the attainment of the Kyoto Protocol goals has now been operational since January; a follow-up attainment after Bali is in process. What challenges does emissions trading face to come to a conclusion?
Derwent: Many challenges still need addressing. However, the lessons that we were able to draw from the first phase of the European Union Emissions Trading Schemes (EU ETS) will serve as a valuable experience. That showed emissions trading is an efficient and economically rational mechanism that regulates supply and demand at a specific price, which can be used both nationally and internationally. Now we have to take on the desires and concerns of a wider group of countries and try to create structures together that will provide a framework for trading after 2012. One of the most important preconditions for that is that vital commodity political will; countries must enter into trade that up to now have not participated and that of itself will increase political will.
What are the specific challenges with regards to the different tools CDM and Joint Implementation (JI)?
Derwent: CDM has been an extraordinary success. JI has taken longer to get going, but shows signs of the same growth. CDM is to a large extent the engine by which the economic interest of the developing countries in climate change can be demonstrated. Even if the future sees some countries moving away from project-based targets to sectoral or national caps, CDM-type projects will remain hugely important. Unfortunately the engine is too small at the moment and it still doesnt run fast enough for the task that has to be achieved. So we need to find ways of expanding the CDM mechanism and increasing its efficiency.
By a wider group of countries, you mean the USA and China?
Derwent: Of course the USA and China, too, but also others. The new government in Australia is a good example. Seen from outside, in the USA it appears that all three potential Presidential candidates have spoken out for a national regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. To what extent this will apply, when all is said and done, can only really be seen after the election, but at least there are very positive signals. China is another important key player that has declared its intention to experiment with emissions trading because the country has recognized both the necessity of reducing pollutants including CO2 and the efficiency of trading as an economic tool.
The topic of implementing air traffic and shipping comes up again and again with the issue of the emissions trade after 2012. Is it conceivable that these areas could be integrated by then, or more likely not?
Derwent: There is still a long way to go, and still some technical difficulties to be solved. These emissions were not taken into consideration in the Kyoto Protocol and to this day there are many different parties who do not believe that cap and trade controls are possible or justified. But the quantity of emissions from these sectors will be very large. In order to integrate air traffic and later also shipping into global emissions control, an economically effective structure will have to be created, and there is no reason trading could not be the best basis
What role does the forthcoming event CARBON EXPO (7 to 9 May 2008) play in all this, as the leading global trade fair and conference for international emissions trading, which was jointly launched by IETA, The World Bank and Koelnmesse in 2004?
Derwent: CARBON EXPO, now in its fifth edition, is the largest and most well-known fair and conference to cover the whole of emissions trading EU ETS, regional schemes, Kyoto mechanisms, offsets and the voluntary market. It has established itself as THE global trade fair and conference where companies, buyers, sellers, technology providers, financial service providers and lawyers come together to do business, communicate and transfer knowledger. With more than 2600 participants from about 100 countries and 240 exhibitors, this fifth edition will undoubtedly be the most successful ever.
[Henry Derwent is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Emissions Trading Association, headquarters based in Geneva, Switzerland.]
Quelle: UD
