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Background (updated Dec.14, 2009) On CLIMATE CHANGE my first explicit policy study was prepared for the Koning Boudewijnstichting / Fondation Roi Baudouin in the period 1988-1990. Energy efficiency by taxing and by installing dedicated teams in the public administration, distributed generation, and a reverted mission for energy distribution utilities were the central themes. The suggestions were fully neglected. The theme of climate change was continued in MIRA (Milieu en Natuurrapport Vlaanderen; 1993-1998), and in alternative electricity supply scenarios phasing out large fossil and nuclear power generation. In 1998 IPCC appointed me as a lead author for Chapter 5: Barriers, Opportunities, and Market Potential of Technologies and Practices (IPCC. Climate Change 2001. Mitigation: 345-398). I was review editor of chapter 11, editor of the WG III Glossary and co-editor of the Glossary of the Synthesis Report in the fourth assessment (IPCC. Climate Change 2007). In 2009-2010, I contribute as lead author in Chapter 11 and contributing author in Chapter 1 of the IPCC. Special Report on Renewable Energy, due to be ready by fall 2010. See: www.ipcc.ch Next to the CHP and Renewable Energy Directives, the EU's climate policy architecture attracted my attention. The Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is an extremely dubious mechanism with significant distributional impacts. Over time, my cricticism has shifted from rather practical (the instrument is inferior to taxes on the major criteria of effectiveness, efficiency and equity) to fundamental-theoretical (shortfalls in effectiveness, efficiency, and equity are due to imposing uniform approaches on diverse realities). Many of the critical points have been addressed during lectures and in several publications since 2002. Yet a comprehensive english text with the critical analysis and a systemic presentation is still missing, but work is progressing and blueprints of a report containing at least two articles on emissions trading are developed. The analysis is part of a research line "Beyond-Kyoto Climate Policy" with as pulications: I. Preparing Robust Climate Policy Architectures; the draft paper came out in March 2009 as Climate policy problem identification, principles and criteria. It has been adapted in August 2009 and after peer review updated in December 2009. This article is no more than "setting the kitchen on order" for entering the cooks to prepare a consistent global climate treaty. It is a mix of "descriptive understandings and normative recommendations" based on a screening tens of scholarly suggestions. Published in August 2010 by International Environmental Agreements (Springer) II. Emission trading without mystery (research going on and text in edition; see lectures for some of the contents). Due to my experience that few people understand the mechanics depending on many assumptions of emission trading, I try to develop a comprehensive analysis starting from basic concepts. Because the literature grows every day, it is hard work to cover the many publications to find out what is new and relevant to consider. III. Beyond Kyoto, Plan B: A climate policy master plan based on transparent metrics. ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS 68 (2009), 2930-2937. While this article is the closing part of the research line, it has been published first (due to the efficient review process by Ecological Economics, and critical but responsive reviewers). |