Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Background: Initiation and First Reform of a Frontrunner System

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Rescuing EU Emissions Trading

  • 364 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter starts with a brief overview of the initiation of the ETS, from the turn-about in 1998 to the Green Paper in 2000 and stakeholder discussions, up to the adoption of the key Directive in 2003. Although the system was successfully launched in 2005, the first years of functioning saw several problems, with a volatile carbon price and individual member-states implementing the system differently. This led to ‘revolutionary’ changes for the 2013–20 phase adopted as part of the climate and energy package in 2008, with a more centralized, auction-based system. The chapter also sums up key country profiles and main industry positions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • CarbonTrust. 2008. Cutting carbon in Europe – The 2020 plans and the future of the EU ETS, CTC734. 1 June. www.carbontrust.com/media/84896/ctc734-cutting-carbon-in-europe-2020-plans.pdf

  • Commission. 2000. Green Paper on greenhouse gas emissions trading within the European Union, (COM(2000) 87 final). Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission. 2001. Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for greenhouse gas emissions trading within the European Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC, (COM(2001) 581). Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission. 2005. Winning the battle against global climate change, (SEC(2005) 180). Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission. 2006. Building a global carbon market – Report pursuant to Article 30 of Directive 2003/87/EC (COM(2006)676 final). Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission. 2007. Final report of the 3rd meeting of the ECCP working group on emissions trading on the review of the EU ETS on further harmonization and increased predictability (21–22 May), (070521–22 Final report M3). Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission. 2008. Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment, Special Eurobarometer Report. Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ecofys. 2004. Analysis of the national allocation plans for the EU emissions trading scheme. UK: Ecofys. www.ecofys.com/files/files/ecofys_2004_analysisnationalallocationplansets.pdf Date accessed 24 Nov 2015.

  • Ellerman, A.D., and B.K. Buchner. 2007. The European Union emissions trading scheme: Origins, allocation, and early results. Review of Environmental Economics 1(1):66–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • EU. 2003. Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EU (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  • EU. 2004. Directive 2004/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 amending directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community, in respect of the Kyoto Protocol’s Project Mechanisms.

    Google Scholar 

  • EU. 2009. Directive 2009/29/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the Community.

    Google Scholar 

  • EUEnergy. 2008. Poland rejects plans for 100 per cent ETS CO2 permit auctions. 21 March.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Council. 2007. Brussels European Council 8/9 March 2007 – Presidency Conclusions (7224/07). Brussels: European Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grubb, M., C. Vrolijk, and D. Brack. 1999. The Kyoto Protocol: A guide and assessment. London: Energy and Environmental Programme, Royal Institute of International Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grubb, M., C. Azar, and M. Persson. 2005. Allowance allocation in the European emissions trading system: A commentary. Climate Policy 5:127–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hægstad Flåm, K. 2009. Restricting the import of ‘emission credits’ in the EU: A power struggle between states and institutions. International Environmental Agreements 9(1):23–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruger, J., and W.A. Pizer. 2004. The EU Emissions Trading Directive: Opportunities and potential pitfalls, Discussion Paper 04–24. Washington, DC: Resources for the Future.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCormick, J. 1999. Understanding the European Union. London: Palgrave.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, J. 1995. Decision-making in the European Union: Towards a framework for analysis. Journal of European Public Policy 2(1):69–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PointCarbon. 2008a. MEPs vote to change EU carbon market from 2013. 7 October.

    Google Scholar 

  • PointCarbon. 2008b. Widespread auctioning of EU allowances will cause economic hardship. 5 June.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ringius, L. 1999. Differentiation, leaders, and fairness: Negotiating climate commitments in the European community. International Negotiation 4(2):133–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skjærseth, J.B., and J. Wettestad. 2008. EU emissions trading: Initiation, decision-making and implementation. Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skjærseth, J.B., and J. Wettestad. 2010. Fixing the EU Emissions Trading System? Understanding the post-2012 changes. Global Environmental Politics 10(4): 101–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S., and J. Swierzbinski. 2007. Assessing the performance of the UK emissions trading scheme. Environmental and Resource Economics 37(1):131–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stavins, R.N. 2002. Lessons from the American experiment with market-based environmental policies. In Market-based governance: Supply side, demand side, upside, and downside, eds. J.D. Donahue and J.S.J. Nye, 173–201. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sæverud, I.A., and J. Wettestad. 2006. Norway and emissions trading: From global front-runner to EU follower. International Environmental Agreements 6(1):91–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Victor, D.G., and J.C. House. 2006. BP’s emissions trading system. Energy Policy 34(15):2100–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wurzel, R.K.W. 2008. The politics of emissions trading in Britain and Germany. Report for the Anglo-German Foundation for the Study of Industrial Society. London: Anglo-German Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Lysaker, Norway

    Jørgen Wettestad & Torbjørg Jevnaker

Authors
  1. Jørgen Wettestad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Torbjørg Jevnaker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2016 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wettestad, J., Jevnaker, T. (2016). Background: Initiation and First Reform of a Frontrunner System. In: Rescuing EU Emissions Trading. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56674-4_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation