Policies to Advance Climate Mitigation Technologies

Resources for the Future COP 9 Activities
December 9-12, 2003
Milan, Italy

In cooperation with:
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)
Ministry for the Environment and Territory
MIT Global Change Forum
Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW)

Policies to Advance Climate Mitigation Technologies                                                                        Tuesday, December 9, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Official UNFCCC side event organized by RFF and the FEEM

Please check on-site monitors for updated time, location,
and direction information for each event.

Chairs:

• William Pizer, Resouces for the Future

• Carlo Carraro, FEEM

Participants/Presentations:

• Daniel Lashof is the Science Director of the Climate Center at the National Resources Defense Council in Washington, DC. | Deploying Advanced Global Technologies to Curb Global Warming

• Tom Marx is Director of Economic Issues for the Public Policy Center at General Motors Corporation. | Policies to Advance Climate Mitigation Technologies

• Richard Newell is a Fellow at Resources for the Future, in Washington, DC. | The Climate Technology Policy Portfolio

• Cédric Philibert is an Administrator at the Energy and Environment Division at the International Energy Agency in Paris, France. | Technology Development and International Collaboration

• Taishi Sugiyama is a Senior Researcher at the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Japan. | Japanese Renewable RD&D Policy

Description:
Panelists share perspectives on the role of domestic and international research, development, and deployment policies supporting renewables, energy efficiency, carbon sequestration, and related climate change mitigation technologies. Large-scale technological changes in the energy-economic system will be necessary to substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions. A panel of experts share perspectives on the potential for different technology and policy options to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Panelists explore how technology considerations - including research, development, and deployment for renewable energy sources, greater energy efficiency, carbon sequestration, and advanced vehicles - should be incorporated into the design of climate policy. Governments spend billions of dollars each year on climate-related technology development: What are the best courses of action to ensure the money is well spent?

The panelists exchange views on how domestic and international policies directly promoting climate-friendly technologies can be used in conjunction with emission policies to respond to the threat of global climate change. Consideration is given to: (i) the motivation for considering technology when designing climate policy; (ii) the technological opportunities; (iii) the policy options; (iv) past experiences; and (v) best courses of action for designing climate policy that harnesses technology. The event includes 10-15 minute presentations by six panelists, followed by an open discussion with the audience.