Energy Seminar : Finding the Best Policy Instruments

Introduction

The theme for the third seminar in this year’s Parker Seminar  series on Climate Policy in Crisis was  based on discussion of some of the instruments of policy that have been considered or adopted as means to address the objective of reducing emissions of GHG.  To see the presentations click on the links in the Agenda below and click here to read the Meeting-Report-3  .  Comments are open  , so if you have anything to add please post your   your comments at the bottom of this  page and help us create an online discussion.

Reflecting  the diversity of the topic, the seminar on this occasion was  organised, not around two main speakers, but  four or five shorter contributions, to bring out some diverse issues and encourage debate.    The contributors  included:

John Rhys ( Chair of  the earlier seminars), from OIES, and a former Chief Economist in the state owned electricity industry, will formulate some of the questions in terms of markets vs regulation, and supply and demand side interventions, and the problem of infrastructure investment, and aim to introduce some controversial propositions.

Rocio Concha Galguera, Deputy Chief Economist at DECC, will talk around factors governments need to consider, including constraints, and conflicting objectives and their resolution.

Malcolm Keay, of OIES and a former Director of Energy Policy at the DTI and Division Head at the IEA, will discuss the importance of the demand side in future policy. Malcolm has previously addressed BIEE seminars on the limitations of energy efficiency.

Adam Whitmore, of Rio Tinto, will comment on the spread of carbon markets, and also address critically the proposition that border adjustment taxes could be a useful international instrument.

Graham Shuttleworth , of  NERA,  will consider the law of unintended consequences, and how policies, markets and market interventions can go wrong.

The agenda for the afternoon is