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The document outlines a proposed carbon tax for South Africa, starting at R120 per tCO2-eq in 2015 with annual increases of 10% through 2019. It argues that a carbon tax is more suitable than an emissions trading system (ETS) in the short term due to the oligopolistic nature of the domestic energy sector. The design includes a basic tax-free threshold of 60%, with additional allowances for trade-exposed and process-emission sectors, and the possibility of using carbon offsets to reduce tax liability. Economic modelling suggests the tax would have a largely neutral impact on GDP and employment if revenues are recycled effectively through tax shifting or government investment. The paper also details complementary flagship programmes in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and public transport to support a just transition.

The report analyzes a diverse array of cap-and-trade systems, from the established EU ETS to emerging pilots in China and South Korea. It argues that the success of these markets depends heavily on long-term political commitment, robust data collection, and centralized decision-making to avoid over-allocation. The authors highlight a shift in the center of carbon market activity toward Asia-Pacific economies, which are experimenting with novel scopes including buildings and indirect emissions.

The report evaluates the capacity of China, Germany, Italy, and the United States to meet evolving international and domestic MRV requirements for greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation actions. While most countries are well-positioned for emissions reporting, significant gaps exist in tracking the impact of specific mitigation policies and coordinating sub-national data.

The document outlines the two primary forms of carbon pricing: emissions trading schemes (ETS) and carbon taxes. It details the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme as the world's largest, alongside regional programs like the RGGI in the US and the Tokyo Cap and Trade Program. It also lists numerous national carbon taxes, noting Finland as the first to introduce one in 1990, and describes hybrid systems in Australia and New Zealand.

The document argues that rigid performance standards for Canada's oil and gas sector are likely to result in non-compliance and high costs due to the diverse abatement potentials across subsectors. By implementing flexibility mechanisms—such as in-sector credit trading and out-of-sector options like low-cost domestic reductions (LCDRs) and price ceilings—the government can achieve more stringent emissions intensity targets. Modelling suggests that while a 20% intensity improvement is achievable with in-sector flexibility, a 50% improvement requires flexibility beyond the sector to be feasible.

China transitioned from being 'slow off the mark' in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to dominating the market by employing a coordinated capacity-building strategy and strong governmental oversight. Central to this success was the appointment of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) as the Designated National Authority (DNA), ensuring that climate policy was managed by a powerful 'heavy-hitting' ministry rather than a less influential environment ministry. China implemented unique restrictions to protect its interests, including a floor price for Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), revenue levies ranging from 2% to 65% to fund the state-controlled CDM Fund, and requirements for Chinese control of project entities. These experiences have served as a foundation for China's transition toward a domestic emissions trading system, with pilot programs in cities like Beijing and Shanghai starting in early 2013 and a nationwide goal for 2015. Furthermore, China integrated carbon intensity reduction goals into its national 5-year plans, linking the performance of local officials to the achievement of these environmental targets.

The document examines China's strategic approach to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), highlighting the role of powerful ministries, coordinated capacity building, and specific market restrictions to ensure local benefits.

An open letter from Scientists for Global Responsibility to the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change arguing that the Draft Energy Bill and current energy policies are unambitious and biased toward the nuclear industry at the expense of renewables and energy efficiency.

The report assesses MRV systems in four major emitting countries, finding that while emissions tracking is generally sophisticated and transparent due to international frameworks like the UNFCCC, tracking the specific impacts of mitigation actions remains inconsistent and less reliable. It highlights a gap in the ability of policymakers to identify the most cost-effective policies, as MRV systems often track policy outputs rather than actual emissions outcomes. The analysis provides country-specific evaluations and identifies good practices, such as the U.S. facility-level data portal and China's annual progress reports.

The report examines the MRV frameworks of four major emitters, finding that while emissions tracking is well-established and consistent with international standards, the tracking of mitigation actions is fragmented, often relying on ex-ante projections rather than ex-post measurements of actual reductions.

During the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), China achieved a 19.06 percent reduction in energy intensity against a 2005 baseline, driven primarily by technological development and structural adjustments. Despite these efficiency gains, total emissions increased by 33.6 percent, making China the world's largest emitter in 2007. The government deployed significant investment, totaling 1.73 trillion yuan in new and renewable energy and 859.2 billion yuan in energy efficiency, though these efforts primarily benefited large state-owned enterprises over small and medium enterprises. Looking toward the 12th Five-Year Plan, the document identifies challenges in meeting ambitious energy and carbon intensity targets due to rapid urbanization, rising marginal costs of conservation, and the continued prioritization of GDP growth by local governments.

During the 11th Five-Year Plan, China reduced its energy intensity by 19.06% compared to a 2005 baseline, primarily through the adoption of cleaner technologies and economic structural changes. While administrative and incentive instruments significantly reduced CO2 emissions, total emissions grew by 33.6%, making China the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter. The report highlights that while large enterprises and local governments implemented energy-saving measures, small- and medium-sized enterprises lagged behind, and regional competition often prioritized GDP growth over carbon reduction. Looking toward the 12th FYP, the document warns that rising marginal costs and rapid urbanization will make achieving new energy and carbon intensity targets more challenging.

The report assesses China's ambition to launch a national carbon trading system by 2015, noting that while the government is determined to move away from inefficient top-down administrative measures, a functional domestic market does not yet exist beyond the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It highlights the initiation of seven regional pilots (Beijing, Chongqing, Guangdong, Hunan, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Tianjin) as critical experiments that will determine the future of Chinese climate policy. The authors identify significant hurdles, including a lack of reliable emission data, the absence of a mature free-market economy, and the need for robust legal frameworks for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV).

The document examines how unilateral carbon pricing creates production cost variations that may lead to 'carbon leakage'—the relocation of production to regions with less stringent environmental standards. It analyzes policy mechanisms to mitigate these risks, such as free allowances and Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs), while highlighting the industry's strategic role in providing essential materials for low-carbon infrastructure. The brief argues that because the mining and metals sector is emissions-intensive and trade-exposed, policy design must account for specific commodity characteristics and long investment cycles to avoid jeopardizing economic viability and environmental integrity.

The document argues that GHG offsets are a critical component of effective climate policy, providing flexibility for regulated industrial emitters and expanding emission reductions to non-regulated sectors. Through a review of international and domestic systems and original CIMS modelling, the brief demonstrates that offsets can significantly lower the societal cost of carbon policies. It proposes two primary implementation paths: integrating offsets as a compliance mechanism within sector-by-sector regulations or establishing a separate, independent offset regime to cover sectors like agriculture and waste.

The report argues that many climate-economics models rely on a 'no-development' assumption for the poorest countries, which underestimates future emissions and weakens the urgency for rich countries to reduce their own emissions. By comparing three scenarios—'Without Development', 'Development with Carbon', and 'Development without Carbon'—the author demonstrates that if low-income countries achieve rapid economic growth similar to India's, the global emissions budget will be exhausted much faster unless aggressive decarbonization policies and financial support from wealthy nations are implemented. A case study of Latin America and the Caribbean illustrates these dynamics, showing that cumulative regional emissions could double if growth accelerates without policy intervention.

The report argues that many climate-economics models rely on overly pessimistic growth projections for the poorest countries, which artificially reduces the perceived urgency for rich countries to cut emissions. By comparing three scenarios—'Without Development', 'Development with Carbon', and 'Development without Carbon'—the author demonstrates that if low-income countries achieve genuine economic development, the global emissions budget will be exceeded unless aggressive decarbonization policies and financial support from high-income nations are implemented. A case study of Latin America and the Caribbean illustrates how regional emissions could double under a high-growth, no-policy scenario, but could be significantly reduced through targeted support for low-carbon technology and emissions intensity reductions.

The report finds a robust consensus across four analyzed studies that developing country mitigation pledges are greater in absolute terms than those of developed countries. It argues that developed country pledges are insufficient and could be further eroded by lenient accounting rules regarding land use and surplus allowances. The analysis concludes that current global pledges are consistent with temperature rises between 2°C and 5°C, necessitating higher ambition from developed nations based on principles of equity and historical responsibility.

The document presents a satirical or corrective 'erratum' to Shell's 2010 annual report, detailing systemic failures in environmental protection and human rights. It lists specific cases of pollution in Nigeria, Curaçao, and Canada, labour abuses in Brazil, and the risks of high-volume fracking. The report proposes a set of 'Key Performance Indicators' for 2011, including a 5% annual decrease in absolute CO2 emissions and a commitment to invest 50% of annual profits into wind and solar power.

The document outlines China's shift toward energy efficiency and non-fossil fuel development, driven by energy security, environmental protection, and economic restructuring. It details the targets of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), including carbon and energy intensity reductions. The author highlights China's rapid expansion in wind, solar, and high-speed rail, while noting the strategic importance of carbon capture and storage. Finally, it argues that China's clear policy framework creates significant investment opportunities for U.S. companies in clean technology.