Conversation with Matthieu Craye, International Relations Officer at the DG ENER

EU has decided to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Japan, South Korea, South Africa has announced similar ambition, China is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2060. There is a strong expectation of substantial change in the US energy policy by incoming Biden administration in support of limiting GHG emissions. At the same time economies of Saudi Arabia and Russia continue to depend strongly from fossil fuel production and export.

How to make a smooth transition from fossil fuel markets to markets working in support of climate friendly energy policy?
How to provide that energy supplies are secure, affordable and sustainable?
How to forge forward looking energy partnerships?
What role could play international organisations and multilateral fora for dialogue?
How to advocate the advantages of the energy transition?

Join the FSR conversation to find answers to these and other burning questions.

#FSRConversations

Hosts: Prof. Andris Piebalgs and Prof. Christopher Jones

Each month, the series of conversations will feature leading actors and policy makers of the European and global energy landscape, interviewed by FSR with the key role of our audience that will be enabled to submit questions in advance.

Carbon leakage and use of offsets in carbon markets: state-of-play and implications for linking

Watch the recording:

The second Online Debate of the project LIFE DICET will discuss the state-of-play and the implications for carbon markets linking of heterogeneous provisions for carbon leakage prevention and use of offsets.

The speakers will discuss questions such as: how do the existing ETSs differ with respect to carbon leakage prevention and to the use of offsets? Can ETS linking, which tends to limit carbon price differentials with other economies, play a role in reducing carbon leakage? To what extent can the article 6 of the Paris Agreement facilitate ETS linking while as the same time supporting the use of offsets? What are the implications of heterogeneity in carbon leakage measures and in environmental integrity for different possible forms of their integration?

Moderator:

• Simone BORGHESI, Director of FSR Climate

Speakers:

• Lambert SCHNEIDER, Research Coordinator for International Climate Policy Energy & Climate, Öko-Institut e.V.
• Michael GRUBB, Professor of Energy and Climate Change, Institute of Sustainable Resources & Energy Institute, University College London

Discussant: 

• Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES (S&D, ITRE Committee), Member of the European Parliament

LIFE DICET is a project co-financed by the EU LIFE Programme of the European Commission.

The Linking Emissions Trading Systems webinar aims at summarising the Carbon Market Policy Dialogue about the relevance and challenges of linking emissions trading systems (ETSs). Following the Online Training, the objective of this webinar is to translate the research of the project LIFE DICET into learning and to bring it to a much wider audience. Special attention is devoted to the six ETSs represented in the Carbon Market Policy Dialogue (those of California, Quebec, EU, Switzerland, China and New Zealand) and to the research reports “Emissions Trading Schemes with different levels of environmental ambition: implications for linking” and “Emissions Trading Schemes with different price-control mechanisms: implications for linking”.

The reports offer conceptual frameworks to characterise environmental ambition and price control mechanisms. They also summarize the relevant scientific literature; they describe the current status of the six ETSs represented in the CMPD and, finally, they offer up a few ideas for discussion.

Watch the recording:

12.00-12.05: Welcome by Simone BORGHESI

12.05-12:25: Presentation of the report “Emissions trading systems with different levels of environmental ambition : implications for linking” by Stefano F. VERDE

12.25-12-45: Presentation of the report “Emissions trading systems with different price control mechanisms : implications for linking” by Giulio GALDI

12.45-13:00: Q&A

Reports:

VERDE, Stefano F., GALDI, Giulio, BORGHESI, Simone, FÜSSLER, Jürg, JAMIESON, Ted, WIMBERGER, Emily, ZHOU, Li, Emissions trading systems with different levels of environmental ambition : implications for linking – Report for the Carbon Market Policy Dialogue, Florence School of Regulation, Climate, LIFE DICET Project, 2020

GALDI, Giulio, VERDE, Stefano F., BORGHESI, Simone, FÜSSLER, Jürg, JAMIESON, Ted, WIMBERGER, Emily, ZHOU, Li, Emissions trading systems with different price control mechanisms : implications for linking – Report for the Carbon Market Policy Dialogue, Florence School of Regulation, Climate, LIFE DICET, Project, 2020

LIFE DICET is a project co-financed by the EU LIFE Programme of the European Commission.

The Vienna Forum on European Energy Law

The Vienna Forum on European Energy Law is an annual joint initiative of the FSR Energy Union Law Area and the Energy Community Secretariat which aims to bridge the gap in energy debate between the EU and Energy Community. This year, for the 8^th edition of the forum, we will be moving online with four webinars across four weeks, focused on the solidarity principle, the European climate law, carbon pricing, and the role of the private sector in the energy transition. To discuss these topics, we will bring together a panel of experts for a roundtable debate and a live Q&A session with our audience.

Webinar 4

The Private Sector to the Rescue of the Energy Transition: ESG and the Role of Banks

Introduction: Tibor Schaffhauser | Energy Community Secretariat

Roundtable Discussion

Moderator:

Leigh Hancher | FSR (RSCAS, EUI); Tilburg University; Baker Boots Botts LLP            

Panellists:      

Andrew McDowell | PricewaterhouseCoopers; formerly EIB

Kim Talus | Tulane University; University of Eastern Finland

Christine Würfel | Raiffeisen Bank International; Vienna Initiative

Eddie O’Connor | Mainstream Renewable Power

Lena Sandberg | Gibson Dunn LLP

Q & A with the live audience

Background to the Discussion

In November 2020, a budget of €1 trillion was approved by Member State governments for the European Investment Bank’s green roadmap to 2030. This will be directed toward investment in climate action, biodiversity, and sustainability-focused projects while future financing will be focused on accelerating clean energy innovation, energy efficiency and renewables. As part of its Climate Bank Roadmap, the bank has pledged that all financing activities will be aligned with the Paris Agreement by the end of the year, and funding will no longer be provided to fossil

fuel projects or airport expansions by 2021. What will be the scope of this new policy in practice? What will be financed and what will not be financed?

In parallel, the Sustainability-Related Disclosure Regulation (2019/2088) will become applicable in mid-2021 and will require certain financial market participants and advisers to provide investors with environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)- related information in making investment decisions. The aim is to provide a greater level of transparency and sustainability within the financial markets in a standardised manner, thus preventing greenwashing and facilitating comparability. What are the standards for these sustainability disclosures? And what will be the wider implications of this regulation when it enters into force?

What will be the impact of these new developments on renewable and sustainable investments in Europe? Are the new rules clear enough to make a difference in practice? How will the sustainability-focused public sector financing impact upon renewable or sustainable energy investments in the coming years? Are there new opportunities? Is access to financing simple enough? What is the impact of national rules on investments in sustainability?

Two-hour webinar organised by the FSR Water and Waste area

How can Regulators and Utilities contribute to building resilient, sustainable, and green water and wastewater services?

The EU Commission has set out a bold and comprehensive plan for European recovery which will require massive public and private investment. This plan, based on solidarity and fairness, seeks to boost the green and digital transitions, and make the European economy fairer, more resilient and more sustainable for future generations. Forceful action is required to close the overall public and private investment gap of at least EUR 1.5 trillion, to repair the immediate economic and social damage caused by the pandemic, and set the Union firmly on the path to a sustainable and resilient recovery.

Water, as a vital good for society and the environment, and a critical input for the economy, represents a key aspect of the recovery potential of EU Members States, especially through the large externalities it generates. The aftermath of the pandemic crisis offers a unique opportunity to boost the resilience and sustainability of greener Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) services across Europe by supporting investments targeted towards ending addressing water emerging pollutants, strengthening the polluter-pays and cost-recovery principles in the future reforms of EU water legislation, incentivizing innovation and digitalization of WSS services, or addressing climate change and the pandemic impacts on WSS services through water risk-based approaches that sustain water security.

The FSR is holding a webinar to discuss these topics and explore how the EU Commission, Regulators, and Utilities can contribute to build resilient, sustainable and green water and wastewater services.

Programme

Introduction by Andrea Guerrini, ARERA

Session 1 moderated by Maria Salvetti, Florence School of Regulation

Reforming EU water legislation in the light of the emerging challenges

Neil Dhot, Executive Director of AquaFed

Milo Fiasconaro, Acqua Publica Europa

Luigi del Giacco, Utilitalia

Session 2 moderated by Stéphane Saussier, Florence School of Regulation

The role of regulators to incentivize innovation and digitalization of WSS services

Alan Sutherland, Water Industry Commission for Scotland

Itai Sag, Israel Water Authority

Oliver Loebel, EurEau

Session 3 moderated by Maria Salvetti, Florence School of Regulation

Addressing climate change and pandemic impacts on WSS services

Ivaylo Kolev, World Bank

Heather Smith, Cranfield Univesity

Robert Brears, Our Future Water

Concluding remarks

Findings from the FSR study on Hydrogen

The Florence School of Regulation has just released a major study examining the main drivers required to ensure a cost-effective decarbonisation energy policy for the EU, as well as a ‘Policy Brief’ on the future Guarantees of Origin system to regulate the EU’s future Energy Sector Integration based market.

In this online event, we will present the study and the policy brief, as well as discuss the main conclusions with the audience online.

Watch the recording:

Background

The study has as its primary focus the policies needed to guarantee the achievement of the Green Deal objectives. In addition, and within this framework, it aims at examining how this can be achieved as a cost-effective transition, maximising benefits for citizens in terms of affordable energy prices, jobs, technological leadership for the EU as well as energy security.

The point of departure for the study has been to endeavour establish the most objective and reliable figures possible for future energy costs, based on a wide range of sources such as the IEA, IRENA and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, as well as academic literature.

By benchmarking and peer-reviewing a wide range of studies, FSR researchers have drawn up ‘con-sensus’ figures for the expected future costs of renewable electricity (onshore wind, offshore wind, PV…) as well as green, blue and turquoise hydrogen. On this basis the researchers calculate expected ETS prices needed to catalyse the replacement of grey hydrogen currently used by industry as a feed-stock, as well as the substitution of natural gas by low and zero-carbon hydrogen by energy intensive industry. Finally, they calculate the expected subsidies needed to kick-start the EU’s future low and zero-carbon hydrogen market at scale.

On the basis of these findings, the authors, Jean-Michel Glachant, Andris Piebalgs and Christopher Jones, draw a number of conclusions and recommendations with respect to the EU’s energy priorities, and in particular they put forward eight key recommendations regarding the manner in which the Commission’s Hydrogen Strategy should be implemented in practice.

Agenda

The Vienna Forum on European Energy Law

The Vienna Forum on European Energy Law is an annual joint initiative of the FSR Energy Union Law Area and the Energy Community Secretariat which aims to bridge the gap in energy debate between the EU and Energy Community. This year, for the 8^th edition of the forum, we will be moving online with four webinars across four weeks, focused on the solidarity principle, the European climate law, carbon pricing, and the role of the private sector in the energy transition. To discuss these topics, we will bring together a panel of experts for a roundtable debate and a live Q&A session with our audience.

Webinar 3

Carbon Pricing: The Silver Bullet for the Energy Transition?

In this webinar, we will take a close look at the role of carbon pricing in the EU transition to carbon neutrality. Could it be the silver bullet?

We will look at the new proposals in the EU, including the prospect of a carbon border adjustment mechanism, which if brought into effect, would radically alter the internal market. But is it feasible? And could such a mechanism be WTO compliant? We will also beyond Europe to critically assess the best paths forward.

Introduction

Leigh Hancher | FSR (RSCAS, EUI); Tilburg University; Baker Botts LLP

Roundtable Christoph Gatzen | Frontier Economics

Jos Delbeke │ School of Transnational Governance (EUI) (tbc)

Michael Mehling │ MIT

Jason MacLean │ UNB Law School

Jennifer Winter | University of Calgary

Q & A with the live audience

Moderation

Dirk Buschle │ Energy Community Secretariat; College of Europe

Upcoming webinar from the Vienna Forum:

Webinar 4: The Private Sector to the Rescue of the Energy Transition

Monday, 7 December 2020, 14.30 – 16.00 CET

The Vienna Forum on European Energy Law

The Vienna Forum on European Energy Law is an annual joint initiative of the FSR Energy Union Law Area and the Energy Community Secretariat which aims to bridge the gap in energy debate between the EU and Energy Community. This year, for the 8^th edition of the forum, we will be moving online with four webinars across four weeks, focused on the solidarity principle, the European climate law, carbon pricing, and the role of the private sector in the energy transition. To discuss these topics, we will bring together a panel of experts for a roundtable debate and a live Q&A session with our audience.

Webinar 3

Carbon Pricing: The Silver Bullet for the Energy Transition?

Introduction

Leigh Hancher | FSR (RSCAS, EUI); Tilburg University; Baker Botts LLP

Roundtable

Christoph Gatzen | Frontier Economics

Jos Delbeke │ School of Transnational Governance (EUI) (tbc)

Michael Mehling │ MIT Jason MacLean │ UNB Law School

Jennifer Winter | University of Calgary

Q & A with the live audience

Moderation

Dirk Buschle │ Energy Community Secretariat; College of Europe

Upcoming webinars from the Vienna Forum:

Webinar 4: The Private Sector to the Rescue of the Energy Transition

Monday, 7 December 2020, 14.30 – 16.00 CET

FSR Talk with Christopher Kardish and FSR Climate

This FSR Talk aims to present the International Carbon Action Partnership’s report “Carbon Leakage and Deep Decarbonization: Future-proofing Carbon Leakage Protection” through a conversation with one of the authors, Christopher Kardish.

The report published in June 2020 provides a review of current efforts to assess the risk of carbon leakage and address it with relevant policies to strengthen decarbonization efforts in light of net-zero emissions targets. While more and more countries pledge to decarbonize by mid-century (EU, USA, Japan, and South Korea) or by 2060 (China), the implications of future climate regulation on industry competitiveness should be evaluated, and the tools to combat carbon leakage could be assessed and eventually aligned across jurisdictions.

Christopher Kardish is a Carbon Markets Advisor at International Carbon Action Partnership and adelphi, specialised in emissions trading, market mechanisms, and climate finance. He analyses emissions trading systems (ETSs) for the Secretariat of the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), as well as contributing to its research papers, technical dialogue, and knowledge sharing activities.

In this event hosted by Jean-Michel Glachant, Simone Borghesi and the FSR Climate team will discuss with Christopher Kardish the main findings of the above-mentioned report. 

Read the report:

Carbon Leakage and Deep Decarbonization: Future-proofing Carbon Leakage Protection, ICAP, 2020

Learn more:

Achieving zero emissions under a cap-and-trade system,  FSR Climate & ICAP, 2020

The impact of the EU emissions trading system on competitiveness and carbon leakage, S. Verde

#FSRTalks 

FSR talks is a series of live interviews with experts from the wider network of the school to showcase and discuss a recent work (a book just published, interesting study, innovative project) in a light and interactive way.

Hosted by: Prof. Jean-Michel Glachant, Ilaria Conti, Swetha Baghwat

>> Watch the Webinar Recording here <<

Inspired by the recently published “Handbook on Railway Regulation. Concepts and Practice” by Edward Elgar, this webinar, jointly organised by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and FSR-Transport, will provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in railway regulation in Europe, the US and Japan. Speakers will examine the most pressing issues for their respective railway markets, and outline future trends in the development of rail globally.

Despite numerous liberalisation attempts in recent years, the railway sector is still excessively complex, with regulations varying throughout the world. The Handbook on Railway Regulation gathers, for the first time, these various approaches and practices, using a historical and systematic approach to identify the main lessons for all countries. Specific topics covered include the digitalisation dilemma in the industry, rail sector reforms and regulation, and competition in the market for rail freight and passenger services.

This Handbook provides an invaluable contribution to the discussion of railway regulation worldwide, and will be a crucial compendium for students and scholars of transportation, regulation and competition looking to explore different approaches to the topic. This will also be an invaluable read for railway policymakers and regulators looking to deepen their understanding of contemporary regulations around the world.

Among others, speakers will focus on the regulatory aspects pertaining to railway market opening, they will draw on lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic on rail operations, and not the least they will shed light on the challenges that they face in meeting the sector’s needs of today and tomorrow.

AGENDA

16:00 – 16:20 | Introduction of the Handbook on Railway Regulation 

• Matthias Finger, Director of FSR-Transport, EUI; Co-editor of the Handbook on Railway Regulation

16:20 – 17:20 | Four presentations 

• Fumio Kurosaki, Professor at Faculty of International Tourism Management, Toyo University; and Contributing Author, ‘Railways in Japan’
• Russell Pittman, US Department of Justice; Kyiv School of Economics; and Contributing Author, ‘Railways and Railways Regulation in the United States: Surely You Don’t Want Jones Back?’
• Juan Montero, Professor at EUI/ UNED, Co-editor of the Handbook on Railway Regulation
• Christian Chavanel, Director of Rail System Department, UIC, and Contributing Author, ‘Towards a new Architecture for technical Regulation of Europe’s Railways’
• François Davenne, Director General of UIC

17:20 – 17:30 | Q&A Session moderated by Simon Fletcher, Director Europe, UIC​

The Policy Advisory Council discusses the most topical regulatory and policy issues and debates the relevance and robustness of the latest FSR research findings.

The meeting gathers renowned academics, experts from the FSR Energy Major Donors, the European Commission, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and National Regulatory Authorities.

The event will take place online and  is structured as follows:

Please note this is a closed event and participation is by invitation only.

This online seminar will delve into the role of lawyers and the legal system in the relationship between transmission system operators and regulatory authorities in the EU. We will explore how recourse to the wider European legal framework – the juridification of the process – plays into the interactions and cases between TSOs and ACER/ NRAs. In light of the rising number of appeals in relation to ACER decisions, how should  any potential conflict-solving be navigated and with what tools?

Does the role of law in the governance of these relations risk overstepping the mark or does it provide a useful structure through which to manage these relations? How can the right balance be struck? And how can consensus be reached in such a scenario and meaningful cooperation between the regulators and the technical expertise on the part of the TSOs be established, maintained or, where necessary restored?

Together with a panel of experts, we will examine the development around several recent cases – the legal context, the roles and responsibilities of the parties – and consider how to facilitate a greater level of efficiency, trust, and cooperation between the parties in the face of legal challenges.

Note this workshop is a closed workshop, which is exclusively open to FSR donors, members of regulatory authorities, ACER or ENTSO-E, or upon invitation only. If you would like to attend but do not meet this criteria, or if you have not received an invitation, please get in touch with us.