Home / Our Work / All Programs & Projects

Topic: market trading

Statement from WRI President Jonathan Lash on the First Day of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Trading

September 25, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
“Today, ten states are taking a major step forward in the fight against global warming as they begin operations of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the country’s first mandatory GHG emissions market.

Ten States Formally Begin Carbon Trading

By Franz Litz on September 24, 2008

On Thursday, for the first time ever, the United States will see a price on carbon emerge from a mandatory emissions cap-and-trade program.

Predicting the Costs of Climate: Who Is Right?

By Tim Herzog on March 25, 2008

Some economic projections say that greenhouse gas limits will cause economic pain, while others predict economic gain. Why the big difference? It depends on the assumptions you choose–and now you can choose your own.

Designing a Cap-and-Trade Program For the Midwest

Kathryn Zyla, Joshua Bushinsky (Pew Center on Global Climate Change)

March, 2008

The Greenhouse Gas Accord announced by ten Midwestern governors in November 2007 involves nearly one fourth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in a regional agreement to improve energy security and design a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction program. Among the strategies described in this accord is the use of a market-based, multi-sector cap-and-trade mechanism to reduce emissions. As the Midwest explores options for such a program, it will face a variety of design choices regarding program goals, costs, and equity. This paper is intended to guide many of these choices by describing some of the options available.

This paper begins with a general overview of the basic building blocks of cap and trade, followed by a discussion of the potential scope of coverage of a program, including what entities might be regulated and which emissions. The paper then focuses on how to set the initial emissions cap and the trajectory for emissions reductions under a potential program. An examination of the options for distributing allowances, or permits to emit, follows. The document then explores how a program might grant early reduction credits, offer project-based offset credits, and provide other potential cost-containment measures. The potential for linking with other similar programs is then briefly discussed.

Making the Carbon Offset Market Work

By Derik Broekhoff on February 13, 2008
Location: WASHINGTON, D.C.

There are two ways the U.S. government could bring consistency and credibility to the voluntary carbon offset market: endorse an existing program and provide guidance, oversight and/or enforcement.

Emissions Markets

This project facilitates the development of globally consistent markets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, which will form a critical component of both U.S. policies and international agreements on climate change.

Paying For Environmental Performance: Using Reverse Auctions to Allocate Funding For Conservation

January, 2007

Explains how reverse auctions can be used as a cost-effective method for allocating funding in US Farm Bill Conservation Programs.

Conservation Best Management Practices, Cost-share and Water Quality Trading Programs

Suzie Greenhalgh, Mindy Selman, and Michael Taylor

July, 2006

Outlines economic and “fairness” reasons why supporting the sale of the cost-share portion of agricultural nutrient and sediment reductions is not the most appropriate policy for the USDA and other government agencies to adopt.

Awakening the Dead Zone: An investment for agriculture, water quality, and climate change

Suzie Greenhalgh and Amanda Sauer

February, 2003

Compares a number of policy options to reduce nutrient loss in the Mississippi River Basin from agricultural sources, provide new income sources for farmers, and help address hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.

Fertile ground: Nutrient trading's potential to cost-effectively improve water quality

Paul Faeth

May, 2000

Explores the cost-effectiveness and environmental performance of various strategies to reduce phosphorus loads in nutrient-impaired waterways.

« first‹ previous12