From Homogeneity to Heterogeneity and the Fundamental Question – What Is Being Traded?

29 Pages Posted: 10 Aug 2017

See all articles by Justin Macinante

Justin Macinante

University of Edinburgh, School of Law

Date Written: August 9, 2017

Abstract

The current negotiations to develop guidance on cooperative approaches under Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Paris Agreement, provide an opportunity to take stock of the fundamental, yet to date, poorly addressed, question of the nature of what is traded in the carbon market. In undertaking such an exercise, this paper argues that, in the context of Paris Agreement implementation, the value of what is traded is just as an important, if not an even more important consideration. The paper posits a view on how allowance units in emission trading schemes (as mitigation outcomes) should properly be considered and suggests a mechanism for their international trading. This approach highlights an urgent need to devise a methodology for placing a mitigation value on them. This is considered essential, if implementation of the Paris Agreement is to achieve the objectives of climate policy. The private financial sector can play an important role in this, and needs to be engaged.

Keywords: Paris Agreement, mitigation outcomes, mitigation value, Article 6 implementation, emissions trading schemes, nature of emission allowance, financial sector

Suggested Citation

Macinante, Justin, From Homogeneity to Heterogeneity and the Fundamental Question – What Is Being Traded? (August 9, 2017). Edinburgh School of Law Research Paper No. 2017/15, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3015798 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3015798

Justin Macinante (Contact Author)

University of Edinburgh, School of Law ( email )

Edinburgh
United Kingdom

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