emissions

The Role of Industrial Emissions Within the EU: Trends and Policy

SNA — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:01:30 +0000

Greenhouse gas emissions generated by industrial activity constitute a significant share of total emissions in the EU. The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is the cornerstone of policies leading to reduction of industrial emissions, supplemented by regulation to prevent fluorinated gases. Industry fears a high burden under the proposed 2030 targets and actively opposes them.Read more

Market-Based Climate Policy Instruments

SNA — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 09:56:30 +0000

European climate policies apply a mix of different policy instruments to impose emissions reductions. Main instrument categories include non-market-based and market-based instruments. This knowledge package introduces the workings of market-based instruments currently part of the EU’s climate policy toolbox.Read more

Non-Market-Based Climate Policy Instruments

SNA — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 08:56:57 +0000

European climate policies apply a mix of different policy instruments to impose emissions reductions. Main instrument categories include non-market-based and market-based instruments. This knowledge package introduces the workings of non-market-based instruments currently part of the EU’s climate policy toolbox.Read more

Carbon Leakage and Industrial Innovation

SNA — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 12:19:29 +0000

Carbon leakage is defined as an increase of emissions outside the EU because of EU climate policies. As such policies affect the costs of economic activity, especially in energy intensive industries, they might cause companies to move production to countries with laxer greenhouse gas emission policies. Therefore, affected industries receive benefits, such as more free emission allowances in the EU...Read more

Observer NGOs and the International Climate Negotiations

SNA — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 10:45:29 +0000

The first part of this knowledge package, "Role of Countries in Climate Negotiations" (POLIMP, 2015) presented an overview of the multilevel interaction of government stakeholders in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The knowledge package below aims at providing a map of the size, coordination and influence of the non-governmental organisations involved as observers in the UNFCCC negotiations.Read more

The Global Rise of Emissions Trading

SNA — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 11:08:01 +0000

An increasing number of countries and regions around the world are developing and implementing emissions trading as a way of putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions. This knowledge package gives an overview of such systems, compares design features and giving an outlook on future developments.Read more

International Ambition on Targets for the Post-2020 Era

SNA — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 10:25:39 +0000

The international community is negotiating a post-2020 framework for global climate action. The UNFCCC meeting concluded with such a framework of increasing emissions reduction commitments beyond 2020. Countries are likely to attach their new post-2020 commitments to the international agreement made at this time. The role of the European Union, USA and China is crucial, given that their emissios comprise...Read more

Do Biofuels Destroy Forests? Link between Deforestation and Biofuel Use

SNA — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 09:51:11 +0000

Sustainable biofuels have the potential to foster rural development and to replace fossil fuels. Although there are concerns about food security, impacts on small-scale farmers, more competition for water, local pollution and increased deforestation, this knowledge package concludes that various difficulties make it impossible to quantify the relationship between biofuel production and deforestation and to map it at the global...Read more

The Costs of Mitigation: An Overview

SNA — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 12:29:51 +0000

There is quite a vast landscape of different definitions used for the word 'cost' related to the concepts of climate change. To enhance appropriate application and interpretation, this knowledge package explains the various terms in the climate change debate. Furthermore, it provides cost estimates for mitigation expressed in consumption losses for 2020 through 2100 and argues that costs would further...Read more

Mitigation: Co-Benefits and Interlinkages to Adaptation

SNA — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:49:10 +0000

Climate mitigation is a popular strategy to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Various options are available for both mitigation policy and technology measures, providing enough economic potential to offset the projected emissions growth. It is crucial for policymakers to be aware of possible side effects, such as co-benefits and interlinkages to adaptation, to pursue a cost-effective implementation...Read more

Non-Market Based Approaches: Status of Discussions under the UNFCCC

SNA — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 09:48:52 +0000

The opposition of few countries to market mechanisms coupled with limitations for involving developing countries, parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are considering measures known as non-market-based approaches, like policies and regulations. This knowledge package shows the involvement of definition of non-market-based approach, ensuring environmental integrity and ensuring sustainable development.Read more

New Market Mechanisms: Status of Discussions under the UNFCCC

SNA — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 07:53:15 +0000

Due to the limitations of existing market mechanism, parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have been prompted to look for new tools to improve cost effectiveness of climate change mitigation. Parties have agreed to consider the implementation of new market mechanisms and non-market based approaches. This knowledge package analyses the elements of new market mechanisms being...Read more

Technical Options for Climate Change Mitigation in EU Agriculture

SNA — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 11:09:23 +0000

Agriculture and land management play a central role in climate change mitigation in the EU. The potential of greenhouse gas mitigation measures differs according to regional characteristics and farming systems. Since there is great diversity in natural conditions and farming systems, selection of the most appropriate practices will vary according to context and depend on specific agronomic, environmental and climatic...Read more

Agriculture and Climate Change in the EU: An Overview

SNA — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 09:27:30 +0000

Agriculture is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, while also being heavily affected by climate change. Mitigation and adaptation have to be prioritised by both farmers and policy makers in order to coordinate efforts to reduce emissions from the sector and meet demands for food. Balancing these sometimes competing interests presents a significant policy challenge. Read more

Climate Finance for Reduction of Emissions and Vulnerability

SNA — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 13:38:26 +0000

Climate finance is defined as the financial resources paid to support climate change mitigation and adaptation activities. International climate finance as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change framework refers to the financial flows from developed to developing countries. This knowledge package provides an introduction to climate finance, including definitions and an overview of principles for climate...Read more