From SO{sub 2} to greenhouse gases: trends and events shaping future emissions trading programs in the United States

Miscellaneous · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005

OSTI ID:20838203

Kruger, Joseph

Cap-and-trade programs have become widely accepted for the control of conventional air pollution in the United States. However, there is still no political consensus to use these programs to address greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, in the wake of the success of the US SO{sub 2} and NOx trading programs, private companies, state governments, and the European Union are developing new trading programs or other initiatives that may set precedents for a future national US greenhouse gas trading scheme. This paper summarizes the literature on the 'lessons learned' from the SO{sub 2} trading program for greenhouse gas trading, including lessons about the potential differences in design that may be necessary because of the different sources, science, mitigation options, and economics inherent in greenhouse gases. The paper discusses how the programs and initiatives mentioned above have been shaped by lessons from past trading programs and whether they are making changes to the SO{sub 2} model to address greenhouse gases. It concludes with an assessment of the implications of these initiatives for a future US national greenhouse gas trading program. 91 refs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Resources for the Future, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 20838203
• Resource Relation: Related Information: Discussion Paper 05-20
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
CLIMATIC CHANGE
MITIGATION
EMISSION
GREENHOUSE GASES
EMISSIONS TRADING
EUROPEAN UNION
USA
NITROGEN OXIDES
SULFUR DIOXIDE
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
POWER GENERATION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY