Climate Change and European Emissions Trading Lessons for Theory and Practice

A collection of twelve superbly written contributions by leading researchers and scientists on greenhouse gas emissions trading by members of the European Union, as well as alternatives and new developments in this specialized area of global warming and reduction related commercial exchange. . . a seminal and strongly recommended work of particular relevance and value for both academic and governmental reference library collections on international environmental studies. Midwest Book Review This timely book focuses on the EU-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme for major sources. It combines legal and economic approaches and reviews the major revision of this scheme. A distinguished range of authors assess the experiences thus far and also consider future development from both theoretical and practical perspectives. They also discuss many design options, including auctioning, credit and trade, the inclusion of aviation emissions, and linking possibilities. Moreover, attention is paid to the role of legal principles, the role of case law, and to aspects of democratic accountability within an emissions trading scheme. Ways to avoid carbon leakage and the role of national climate policies are also discussed. This book makes clear that the economic efficiency and effectiveness of an emissions trading scheme depend to a large extent on the specific legislative choices, and hence the legislative design of such a scheme deserves meticulous attention. Discussing legal and economic aspects of emissions trading, this book offers new insights to academics and policy makers both in the public and private sector. Those insights are not only relevant for understanding the past, but moreover for guiding the future design of emissions trading for greenhouse gases.