17-27 June 2012 – In October 2011, NDRC announced the seven regions in which an ETS would be piloted. The pilots are expected to launch their trading schemes in 2013. Shanghai is one of the priorities for the establishment of a pilot ETS. In order for the regions to establish an ETS in such a short time as planned, cooperation and knowledge sharing with countries and experts that have already gained experience regarding an ETS is essential.
The study tour brought together a selected delegation from the Shanghai Municipal government, the Shanghai Exchange and other institutions with European institutions and experts working on emissions trading in three countries (Germany, Belgium and Spain). The participants learned about the German and European practices in regards to EU ETS regulations & supervisions, performance & management of carbon market players, and the carbon asset management of covered entities. The visited institutions and experts covered a broad range of stakeholders involved in emissions trading, i.e. policy regulators, emissions exchanges as well as industrial emitters. This approach helped the delegation to gain a balanced and comprehensive understanding of requirements for an effective trading system as well as problems that might occur during the implementation.
In Germany, the delegation visited the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), where they learned about the institutional framework of German ETS administration, monitoring and supervision as well as German experiences and lessons from the EU ETS. The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) introduced them to GHG Inventories, Carbon Registry, MRV and measures to improve data quality and supervision. At the European Energy Exchange (EEX), participants gained a deeper insight into carbon allowance trading, trading products as well as rules and procedures. In Brussels, the participants got the opportunity to discuss the ETS’ impacts on low-carbon development and industry competitiveness, measures to support carbon prices and major changes of the EU ETS in the third trading period starting in 2013.
The delegation also visited the following institutions:
- Institute for Applied Ecology
- Ecologic Institute Berlin
- E.ON AG
- Vattenfall Europe Generation AG
- CEMEX Ost Zement GmbH
- International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)
- Endesa Energia
- Barcelona Exchange – SENDECO2
