Point Carbon offers in-depth analysis of Barcelona talks

Barcelona (21 October 2009) 

Kristian Tangen, a senior expert at Point Carbon, the world-leading provider of market analysis for the energy and environmental markets, will be available for comment on progress made at the Barcelona Climate Change talks taking place from November 2-6. Kristian Tangen has covered all climate change negotiations since 1997. Journalists are welcome to contact him for comment and analysis before or during the talks. 

The crunch issues to be negotiated in Barcelona include sectoral approaches and REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) ahead of the Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen to be held from 7-14 December. Point Carbon has recently carried out a number of studies that look into what this might mean for the future carbon market and Kristian Tangen would be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding REDD or sectoral approaches in particular, or the overall dynamics of the negotiations in general. The Copenhagen meeting may embrace sectoral crediting mechanisms for advanced developing countries. Essentially sectoral approaches entail credits or allowances becoming exportable in situations where emitters or governments produce emissions reductions over and beyond agreed targets or baselines for certain sectors. 

Due to the significance of deforestation as a source of carbon emissions, there may also be a major initiative on REDD in Copenhagen, although Point Carbon believes that REDD is unlikely to become a significant source of offsets before 2020 due to stringent requirements on host countries. 

Note to editors
- The Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, which entered into force in February 2005, resulted in the launch of the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The EU ETS is the world’s first international emissions trading scheme. It works on a cap - and - trade basis, where the total allocation is set at the start of a trading period. EU Allowances (EUAs) are the tradable unit under the EU ETS. Up to a certain limit, it is also allowed to import carbon permits from third countries (CERs and ERUs). 

-  The second period of the EU ETS runs from 2008-2012 and coincides with the compliance period. 

- COP 15, or the United Nation’s Copenhagen climate change summit, will begin in Copenhagen on December 7. Officials will try to agree a new climate treaty as a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. 

For comments or further information, please contact:
Kristian Tangen
Senior Expert
Mob: + 47 92 46 94 00
E-mail: kt@pointcarbon.com 

Candida Jones
PR Manager, Point Carbon
Mob: +44 (0) 777 5754 763 
E-mail: cjo@pointcarbon.com  

About Point Carbon
Providing critical insights into energy and environmental markets 

Point Carbon is a world-leading provider of independent news, analysis and consulting services for European and global power, gas and carbon markets. Point Carbon’s comprehensive services provide professionals with market-moving information through monitoring fundamental information, key market players and business and policy developments. 

Point Carbon’s in-depth knowledge of power, gas and CO2 emissions market dynamics positions us as the number one supplier of unrivalled market intelligence on these markets. Our staff includes experts in international and regional climate policy, mathematical and economic modelling, forecasting methodologies, risk management and market reporting. 

Point Carbon now has more than 15,000 clients, including the world’s major energy companies, financial institutions, organisations and governments, in over 150 countries. Reports are translated from English into Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, French, Spanish and Russian. Every year, Point Carbon’s Carbon Market Insights conferences gather thousands of key players for the carbon community’s most important annual conferences. Point Carbon also runs a number of high-level networking events, workshops and training courses. 

Point Carbon has offices in Oslo (Head Office), Kiev, Malmö, London, Washington D.C., Tokyo, Beijing, Hamburg and Zürich.