With Biden, the United States can give global climate policy the necessary stimulus, and fill in the political vacuum if it gets its own house back in order. New US President Joe Biden cited climate as one of his priorities. Now that he can have a majority in the Senate with 50 Democratic senators and…
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Tropical forest protection needs positive incentives from the EU
Tropical deforestation still contributes some 17% to global greenhouse gas emissions and the problem is on the radar of the EU and against EU driven deforestation. However, the focus is limited to negative incentives: on import restrictions and penalties. But forest nations ask for support, for example for sustainable farming without clearing forests. Making use…
CO2 deals important for Paris Accord
Switzerland and Peru agreed in October to work together on CO2 reductions; in November Switzerland signed an agreement with Ghana. And the oil company Total supplied climate neutral LNG to China. compensated with projects in China and Zimbabwe. The first is an example of the “mandatory CO2 market”: the country buys carbon credits to helps…
EU CO2 target requires flexibility. Switzerland signs a CO2 deal with Peru. Sweden prepares deals.
The European Commission’s “Impact Assessment”, presented with the climate proposals for 2030, describes various scenarios for achieving the CO2 targets. What is striking is that there is still a gap in the emissions budget. The Commission wants to promote CO2 storage in nature and soils through additional market incentives. That is indeed an important, but…
Making an EU Carbon Border Tax easier with a Carbon Club
My six tips for a European Carbon Border Tax. The President of the new European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has asked Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan to levy a CO2 tax on imports to the EU: “to contribute to the design and introduction of the Carbon Border Tax, working closely with the Commissioner for…
Changing the CORSIA offset baseline breaks trust and is a blow to carbon markets
Changing the CORSIA *) baseline by the June ICAO Council for CO2 offset purchases into 2019 – instead of the agreed average of 2019 and 2020 – would be big mistake. It would break the trust of investors and the public in the aviation offsetting system before it has even begun. And it can mean…
COVID-19 and Climate Change Each Require Targeted Treatment and Improved Behavior
We’ll meet the COVID challenge by improving our current treatments and practices, not by either jettisoning them or letting the disease run its course. Here’s how that same logic applies to climate change. “Let’s be more pragmatic: the antidote is here!” My contribution on EcosystemMarketplace