Latest content of theme Carbon Policy

Professor Mark Jaccard is Director of the School of Resource & Environmental Management at Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University. He has published over 100 academic papers, most of these related to his principal research focus: the design and application of energy-economy models that assess the effectiveness of sustainable energy and climate policies. His latest book The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Success: Overcoming Myths that Hinder Progress has received rave reviews.

The UK has made great progress in decarbonising electricity over the past decade. Tackling transport and heat will be next, where the potential of digitalisation will be crucial. Policymakers face a raft of challenges. Energy Systems Catapult believes the architecture of the energy system requires a rethink. Strategy and Performance Director Guy Newey explains.

The Developing Carbon Credit Markets report explores how linking sectoral policies through trading can play a key role in opening a pathway to an economy-wide carbon policy framework. This report is part of the Net Zero Carbon Policy project, focusing on how the UK can develop an innovation-friendly, economy-wide framework for Net Zero.

Moves to simply apply a blanket carbon tax across the economy are unlikely to unlock the innovations we need to meet our ambitious targets, and risk backfiring if not handled with care.

Energy Systems Catapult broadly supports the proposals to raise energy efficiency standards in privately rented homes as a way to prepare them for future low-carbon heat, help address fuel poverty and reduce energy bills. However. we would urge Government to consider some important factors in assessing its proposed policy scenarios.

A new independent report produced for the Climate Change Committee by Energy Systems Catapult for input into their Sixth Carbon Budget advice to Government, says: careful policy design can deliver deep decarbonisation, while ensuring energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries are not disadvantaged compared to international peers.

A new independent report produced for the Climate Change Committee suggests the right Government policy can minimise the impact of Net Zero on the competitiveness of UK industry and reduce the offshoring of carbon emissions. But there is no silver bullet and a wide package of policy measures will be needed, including a market for negative emissions and transitioning from initial subsidies to a set of standards – including at the border – that tighten over time in line with carbon budgets.

The Prime Minister’s 10-point package marks the first substantial climate intervention by a PM since the start of the coalition. That matters. It gives a clear signal outside and, just as importantly, inside Government that Net Zero is a priority.

There has been plenty of technical debate over the years about the best way to put a price on carbon emissions. Some favour a carbon tax while others favour emissions trading systems. There are arguments on both sides. However if Government is serious about Net Zero, it must implement a UK Emissions Trading System in 2021.

The UK’s withdrawal from the EU Emissions Trading System and the implementation of a UK
Emissions Trading System (ETS) provides the UK with a historic opportunity to improve the
economy-wide coherence of incentives to reduce emissions and achieve Net Zero by 2050.