Kiel Institute for World Economics Duesternbrooker Weg 120 24105 Kiel (Germany) Kieler Working Paper No. 1271 Efficient Abatement in Separated Carbon Markets: A Theoretical and Quantitative Analysis of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme by Sonja Peterson March 2006 The responsibility for the contents of the working papers rests with the author, not the Institute. Since working papers are of a preliminary nature, it may be useful to contact the author of a particular working paper about results or caveats before referring to, or quoting, a paper. Any comments on working papers should be sent directly to the author. Efficient Abatement in Separated Carbon Markets: A Theoretical and Quantitative Analysis of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme* Sonja Peterson Abstract: The European Emissions Trading Scheme for CO2 established in 2005 is the world's largest emissions trading scheme. Since it covers only some sectors of the European economies it can nevertheless not ensure that the Kyoto targets are reached at minimal cost. This paper first analyzes the conditions for cost efficiency in the current separated carbon markets accounting also for the possibilities of purchasing international carbon credits from outside the EU. A computable general equilibrium model is then used to assess the cost efficiency of current EU climate strategies. Finally, based both on the theoretical as well as the quantitative analysis, recommendations are derived for a better allocation of the reduction burden between the sectors participating in emissions trading, those that do not participate and international carbon purchases. Keywords: emissions trading, allocation, efficiency, separated markets JEL classification: H21, D61, Q48, D58 Sonja Peterson Kiel Institute for World Economics 24100 Kiel, Germany Telephone:+49-(0)431-8814-406 E-mail:
[email protected] * I would like to thank Gernot Klepper for helpful comments and suggestions.