Carbon Pricing Around the World: Leveraging 10 years of Experience in the EU

Date: 5th December, 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm
Location: European Pavilion, Room Luxembourg
Partner(s): World Bank – Partnership for Market Readiness, and Ecofys

The side event discussed the EUE TS – currently the world’s oldest and largest emissions trading scheme – and what lessons can be drawn and applied to other (emerging and developing) countries looking to put a price on carbon.

Moderator : Benoît LEGUET, Managing Director I4CE – Institute for Climate Economics

Key messages:

Noémie Klein, Senior Consultant, Ecofys, focused on the results of the latest State and Trends report (World Bank and Ecofys) noting that Carbon pricing schemes (current and scheduled) are expected to account for 21% of global GHG emissions. View Noemie’s presentation

Emilie Alberola, Program Director, I4CE highlighted some key lessons learned from the EU ETS that would need to be considered to effectively implement an ETS. View Emilie’s presentation
- When designing an emissions cap, interactions with complementary energy policies (RES, EE) and other abatement measures must be accounted for;
- Targeted free allocation is necessary to protect vulnerable entities;
- For long term effectiveness an ETS requires robust governance and provisions to enhance flexibility
- When investing ETS revenues Factors of variability and the leverage effect on private finance should be considered.

Xueman Wang, World Bank then discussed how building technical capacity and political willingness are fundamental to the PMR program and mobilizing carbon pricing around the world. View Xueman’s presentation

Wang Shu, Deputy Director, Climate Change Department, National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) spoke from China’s ETS experience and the lessons learned from the EU ETS stressing the importance of reliable MRV at facilitating fairness, transparency and trust among the participants. China has also learned from the EU allowances approach and will progressive shift from free allocation to auctioning. The consultation process used by the EU Commission to mobilize stakeholders constitutes an interesting element for China before drafting its legislation proposal.

05 Dec 2015

Carbon Pricing Around the World: Leveraging 10 years of Experience in the EU

To learn more

01/16/2026 Foreword of the week
2026: An electric atmosphere

The year ahead promises to be electric. In a highly unpredictable geopolitical context, the European Union must balance its commitment to the long-term goals of climate neutrality and the immediate attention to security and competitiveness concerns. This puts electrification high on the agenda in Brussels. First, the Grids Package, presented in December 2025, provides for a more centralised approach to planning and is expected to be adopted by the Council in June. Second, before the summer, the Commission intends to present an Electrification Action Plan, which will focus on lowering prices and reinforcing demand.
12/12/2025 Blog post Foreword of the week
Paris +10: France and Europe must step up on climate – to protect our security, sovereignty, competitiveness, and public finances

How distant December 12, 2015 now seems. All delegations at COP21 had then rallied behind Laurent Fabius’s little green hammer. Ten years later, the trend is closer to backlash. Climate action is now often portrayed in the public debate as too costly, because it requires major investment. Ineffective, since our share of global emissions is small. Unfair, because it cuts into purchasing power. Too divisive, supported only by part of the electorate. Too late, since keeping the planet below +2°C of warming now seems out of reach. Arguments that are partly true—yet require substantial nuance.
12/11/2025 Blog post
Climate finance at COP30: Progress, pitfalls, persistent challenges and the path ahead

A few weeks ago, COP30 concluded in Belém with all parties agreeing on a “global mobilization” (or mutirão) against climate change, proving that multilateralism remains a viable path for action, despite strong geopolitical and economic headwinds. However, Belém delivered underwhelming results: no roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels –despite a powerful push from President Lula, rallying over 80 countries, a lack of concrete decisions on deforestation –disappointing for an “Amazon COP”, and mixed results on the global goal on adaptation, among other outcomes.

Carbon Pricing Around the World: Leveraging 10 years of Experience in the EU

Key messages:

Carbon Pricing Around the World: Leveraging 10 years of Experience in the EU

2026: An electric atmosphere

Paris +10: France and Europe must step up on climate – to protect our security, sovereignty, competitiveness, and public finances

Climate finance at COP30: Progress, pitfalls, persistent challenges and the path ahead