Projects

Our projects currently are organised into thematic areas reflecting the policy concerns of the national and international organisations we advise. At the moment, the main theme is Carbon Pricing. Within this theme, we design and assess policies aimed at 'putting a price' on the emissions of greenhouse gases, to drive actions that ration, reduce, and prevent their release. Our work assesses and critiques existing policies and proposes improvements and/or completely new policies, strategies and action plans, including energy taxes, cap and trade schemes and import levies at national and international levels. An overall objective is to understand how international processes can facilitate and encourage national and supranational action. Specific projects within this theme are shown to the right.


Carbon Taxes

A carbon tax is a tax on fossil fuels according to the amount of CO2 they would produce on combustion (burning). It could apply to all fossil fuels, and would be charged at extraction or importation of the fossil fuel. Revenues can be refunded so most people and organisations are no worse off. The goal is to drive down emissions by driving up the cost of carbon emissions, sending a price signal to consumers.

Cap and Trade

Cap and Trade provides an economic "relief valve" for organisations facing increasingly stringent controls on emissions. Governments cap the overall emissions of fossil fuels from large sources such as power stations and factories. Permits to pollute are auctioned or given away for free, and are then bought and sold in a market. Cap and trade usually only covers large industrial and electricity sectors: other approaches are needed for the domestic and transport sectors.