IEA says that car makers should be responsible for trading CO2 emissions
Fri 25 November 2005
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A new report from the International Energy Agency states that emissions trading will remain at the core of future international agreements to combat climate change. The authors suggest that car manufacturers, rather than drivers, could be made responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions of the vehicles they sell.
The new publication: "Act Locally, Trade Globally – Emissions Trading for Climate Policy" concludes that emissions trading enables the reduction of emissions at least-cost, and helps governments to achieve acceptability through allocation processes, domestically and internationally.
Among the proposals examined in this study are the allocations of liability for emissions to fossil fuels importers and producers or to carmakers. Emissions trading could also be broadened to include the rapidly growing emissions of international aviation.
Richard Baron, an economist and co-author of the IEA study said: "There has to be a way to signal to car owners the environmental cost from driving...such a scheme would force car companies to build better cars."
The IEA, the Paris-based adviser to 26 oil-importing nations, said that it did not expect its proposals would be welcomed by auto makers, drivers or governments but is intended to help 'kick-off' a process of discussion..
Related Links
IEA press release
Globe and Mail (Canada) news link
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