The European Emissions Trading Scheme - A Critical Appraisal Essay

The European Emissions Trading Scheme - A Critical Appraisal - Essay Example The scheme also featured a ‘flexible’ arrangement where Member States created their own National Allocation Plans. Further on, the report looks into the aspects of the Emissions Trading Scheme in a comparative manner that is, the intention at the beginning, actualization stages and the present state. The main aspects include its boundary where at first the scheme focused on power generating companies and those that use energy-intensive operations that is, metal producing companies and oil refineries. The other aspect is extension where the EU Emissions Trading Scheme has formed links with other schemes through emissions-saving projects through two key mechanisms. Third world countries that have a compulsory cap-and-trade system and they have ratified the Kyoto Protocol have also formed links with the EU scheme. This has seen the carbon market expand to a global reach. Finally, there is the calculation aspect that presents three different models for calculating carbon dio xide emissions. Lastly, a breakdown of the issues has come into play since the inception of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. ... Introduction Having no prior experience with cap and trade as well as the need to develop knowledge along with architecture for the program, the European Union set out to begin with only carbon dioxide and a restricted number of sectors. This is following the established Kyoto Protocol that was created with the aim of averting hazardous human-induced interference to the climate system. As soon as the infrastructure was in place, additional greenhouse gases and sectors could be included in successive phases of the program. This would come into effect depending on any further emissions that needed to be reduced. Over time, a carbon price that is widely accepted in Europe was instituted, businesses embarked on including the price in their decision-making and the market infrastructure for a multi-national trading system came into existence (Ellerman, Perthuis and Convery 2010,p.2). The principal design of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme follows that all manufacturing sectors that are par ticularly energy-intensive and electricity generators are obligated to get a permit from regulators for every tone of carbon dioxide that they release. The first phase of the Scheme, taking place from 2005 to 2007, saw the permits being issued free based on companies’ historical emission levels. The second phase, taking place from 2008 to 2012, saw generators of electricity having to purchase some of their permits from auctions organized by the government; while, industrial companies continue to get their permits for free subject to some tightening of targets in acknowledgement of the risk of hurting their competitiveness. The third phase, taking place from 2013 to 2020, will see all permits being auctioned with the exception of particular manufacturing sectors that