U.S.-China Workshop: Domestic MRV of Climate Efforts

Promoted in Energy Efficiency section:

Download presentations on domestic monitoring and evaluation of mitigation-related efforts, and the role of measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) in effective emissions markets, drawing in both areas on domestic experiences in the United States and China.

Mon, 06/04/2012 - 13:02 - Tue, 06/05/2012 - 13:02

The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and Tsinghua University co-hosted a workshop Beijing in October 2010 on Reporting Practices Related to Climate Change and Other International Challenges [1]. We are continuing this series of informal U.S.-China workshops to help strengthen mutual understanding of domestic monitoring, reporting and verification practices and challenges and to draw lessons from respective domestic experiences.

This workshop focused on domestic monitoring and evaluation of mitigation-related efforts, and on the role of measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) in effective emissions markets, drawing in both areas on domestic experiences in the two countries. Links to speaker presentations (PDF) are provided below.

Download the entire workshop summary (PDF) [2].

U.S.-China Workshop: Domestic MRV of Climate Efforts

June 4-5, 2012
Washington, D.C.

Monday, June 4

Welcoming Remarks

Elliot Diringer, Executive Vice President, C2ES
Teng Fei, Associate Professor, Tsinghua University

Energy-Related Monitoring and Verification
Accurate energy data is an essential foundation for policymaking and for tracking program implementation. This session focused on the monitoring, verification and assessment of energy data, and energy-related mitigation policies. Presentations provide overviews of China’s accountability system for its national energy intensity target, the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) collection and verification of energy data, and implementation of California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Teng Fei [3], Associate Professor, Tsinghua University
Experience with the energy conservation target accountability system
Perry Lindstrom [4], Industry Economist, U.S. Energy Information Administration
Overview of U.S. EIA’s energy data tracking system
Clare Breidenich [5], Independent Consultant
Experience with implementation of California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard
Moderator: Kevin J. Tu, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

GHG Monitoring: Government and Industry
This session shifted to a focus on GHG monitoring and control programs involving industry. It began with an overview of the new U.S. GHG mandatory reporting rule. Presentations then focused, at a more disaggregated level, on monitoring and evaluation in the voluntary SF6 emission reduction program in the United States, and the Chinese cement sector’s experience in developing climate mitigation-relevant MRV systems.

Kong Chiu [6], Senior Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
Sally Rand [7], SF6 Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Voluntary industrial partnership programs: SF6 and Electric Power
Wang Lan [8], Professor, China Building Materials Academy
Developing MRV guidelines for the Chinese cement sector
Moderator: Tim Juliani, Director of Corporate Engagement, C2ES

Role of MRV in Effective Emissions Trading Programs
The use of market mechanisms for pollution control has a well-established history in the United States and is being actively pursued in China. This session focused on the design and implementation of monitoring, reporting and verification elements within pollution trading mechanisms, starting with lessons learned from emission trading programs for sulfur dioxide (SO2) in both the U.S. and China, and how these lessons apply to the monitoring, reporting and verification of GHGs and carbon dioxide (CO2).

Janet Peace [9], Vice President for Markets and Business Strategy, C2ES
Design elements of an effective emission trading monitoring, reporting and verification system
Jeremy Schreifels [10], Senior Policy Analyst, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Emission monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) for U.S. cap and trade programs
Wu Jian [11], Deputy Dean and Associate Professor, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China
Lessons from Chinese programs: SO2 emission trading pilot programs and lessons for CO2 MRV
Jeffrey Hopkins [12], Economic and Environmental Policy Adviser, Rio Tinto
An industry perspective: emissions monitoring and participation in market-based compliance systems
Moderator: Maurice LeFranc, Senior Adviser, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Tuesday, June 5

MRV in GHG Markets at the Sub-National Level
In both the United States and China, the use of market mechanisms for controlling CO₂ and GHG emissions has moved forward at the state and regional levels. This session explored the establishment of monitoring, reporting and verification systems for GHG emissions trading at the sub-national level, focusing on the experiences of state and regional governments in the United States, and the pilot emissions trading programs currently being developed in seven Chinese provinces and cities.

David Farnsworth [13], Senior Associate, Regulatory Assistance Project
Perspective from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (North-East U.S. States)
Wang Yu [14], Assistant Professor, Tsinghua University
Status of China’s regional trading programs
Michael Gillenwater [15], Executive Director and Dean, Greenhouse Gas Management Institute
Perspective from California
Moderator: Anthony Mansell, U.S. Policy Adviser, International Emissions Trading Association

Key Takeaways

Joanna Lewis, Assistant Professor, Georgetown University
Xueman Wang, Team Leader, World Bank Partnership for Market Readiness

Video