Carbon Pricing: Sustaining the Momentum after COP21 (March 2016)

An event jointly organized by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the World Bank Group (WBG)
Date:
Mar 08, 2016
Venue:
Zurich, Switzerland
March 08, 2016 | Zurich, Switzerland | ||
I. Introductory session | ||
Opening and welcome remarks | ||
9:00 | ||
Mr. Vikram Widge, Head, Climate and Carbon Finance Unit, World Bank Group | ||
Mr. Stefan Flückiger, Ambassador, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Government of Switzerland | ||
Mr. Ivo Germann, Head of Operations, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Government of Switzerland | ||
SESSION 1 – Carbon tax design and recent developments | ||
The Paris Agreement recognizes voluntary cooperative approaches, including the “internationally transferred mitigation outcomes” (ITMOs) and a UNFCCC-governed mechanism that will support mitigation and sustainable development post-2020, thereby reaffirming carbon markets as a key instrument to achieve climate mitigation goals nationally and globally. This session brought together panelists from governments, private sector and multilateral organizations to discuss their views on how the Paris Agreement paves the way towards an international carbon market for the period after 2020, and its implications for the design and implementation of carbon pricing instruments around the world. |
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9:30 | ||
Moderator: Mr. Vikram Widge, Head, Climate and Carbon Finance Unit, World Bank Group | ||
Keynote speakers | ||
Mr. Franz Perrez, Ambassador, Chief Climate Change Negotiator, Head of International Affairs Division, Federal Office for the Environment, Government of Switzerland | ||
Mr. Bernard Mathieu, Senior Vice-President - Head of Sustainable Development, LafargeHolcim | ||
Mr. James Close, Director, Climate Change, World Bank Group | ||
Q&A | ||
10:30 | Coffee break | |
SESSION 2 – The role of carbon pricing in achieving NDC objectives | ||
The intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) – which included countries’ mitigation targets or outlined their proposed climate actions for the coming decades – are a cornerstone of the Paris Agreement. Going forward, the soon-to-be-called NDCs will also be an important driver of the transition of countries toward a low-carbon economy in the years to come. This session will examine the role that carbon pricing instruments can play, as part of wider policy packages and measures, in achieving countries’ mid- and long-term mitigation goals and, thereby, in meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement. 11:00 |
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11:00 | Moderator: Mr. Dirk Forrister, International Emissions Trading Association | |
Panel discussion | ||
Mr. Peter Zapfel, Head of Unit, DG Clima, European Commission | ||
Ms. Shuang Zheng, Director, National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation of China (NCSC) | ||
Mr. Cecil Morden, Chief Director, Economic Tax Analysis, National Treasury, Government of South Africa | ||
Ms. Lynda Danquah, Manager, Trading Regimes / Environmental Stewardship Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada | ||
Ms. Aurélie Jardin, Public Affairs and Partnership Director, Schneider Electric | ||
Q&A and plenary discussion | ||
12:30 | Lunch | |
SESSION 3 – Practical implications of the Paris Agreement: Taking next common steps in implementing and enhancing international carbon pricing | ||
The Paris Agreement recognizes that countries may seek to cooperate with each other to achieve their mitigation outcomes and establishes a clear international framework within which to do this. However, work is still to be done to clarify the specific arrangements and move toward implementation. This session brought together panelists from governments, international platforms, and the private sector to discuss the practical next steps to be taken to implement and enhance international carbon pricing. | ||
Moderator: Mr. Richard Baron, Coordinator, Aligning Policies for a Low-Carbon Economy, OECD | ||
14:00 | Panel discussion – assessing the contribution of a carbon tax to the Nationally Determined Contributions | |
Mr. Massamba Thioye, Manager, Sustainable Development Mechanisms Programme, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change | ||
Ms. Malin Ahlberg, Carbon Market Platform | ||
Ms. Kay Harrison, Ministry of the Environment, New Zealand | ||
Mr. Olav Aamlid Syversen, Deputy Head of Statoil EU Affairs, Statoil/Paying for Carbon Coalition | ||
Q&A and plenary discussion | ||
Coffee Break | ||
SESSION 4 – The role of public-private cooperation in moving forward | ||
The Paris Agreement requires ambitious emissions reductions for which support from the private sector will also be needed - to encourage political decision-makers to take action, redirect financial flows and accelerate technological development. The strong private sector presence at COP21 gives hope for a fruitful cooperation over the next years. This session will feature representatives from the public and the private sector and focus on the potential outcomes of their collaboration. Views and ideas will be exchanged on which actions can and should be taken right now in advance of a globally harmonized carbon price that can ultimately be achieved. | ||
Moderator: Mr. Venkata Ramana Putti, Program Manager, Climate and Carbon Finance Unit, World Bank Group | ||
16:00 | Panel discussion – | |
Ms. Anne C. Bolle, Vice President Carbon Business Development, Statkraft | ||
Mr. Juan Pedro Searle, Sustainable Development Division, Ministry of Energy, Government of Chile | ||
Mr. Dirk Forrister, International Emissions Trading Association | ||
Mr. Yuji Mizuno, Ministry of the Environment, Japan | ||
Mr. Ingo Ramming, Managing Director / Co-head Commodity Solutions, CommerzbankEnvironment, Japan | ||
Q&A and plenary discussion | ||
Closing session | ||
15:45 | ||
Closing Remarks | ||
Mr. Vikram Widge, Head, Climate and Carbon Finance Unit, World Bank Group | ||
Mr. Stefan Flückiger, Ambassador, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Government of Switzerland | ||
Session close and break | ||
Carbon pricing night | ||
7:00:00 PM | Evening reception hosted by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs | |