Carbon Trading: The Ins and Outs of Offsets
What You Will Learn
Carbon offsets play an important but controversial role in the cap-and-trade program. Both EPA and the Congressional Budget Office have identified a vigorous domestic and international offsets development system as critical to the ultimate success of any cap and trade program overall. Yet, offsets remain controversial with environmental groups and certain lawmakers due to concern about verification of greenhouse gas reductions and the relief they may provide to other industrial sources of greenhouse gas from reducing emissions directly.
This seminar will address the purpose, creation and trading of offsets, including international and voluntary offsets. We will also consider the roles of agriculture and forestry, including reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). Specific topics to be addressed include:
The core concepts surrounding domestic and international offsets, including the nature of offset projects, the methodologies used to implement them, and the opportunities and risks they generate;
The treatment of offsets in various versions of climate change legislation, the key issues to the debate, and the differing approaches and views of key committees and lawmakers to addressing offsets in a cap and trade system;
The role of voluntary, state and regional offsets systems and their interaction with proposed federal climate change legislation; and
The likely prospects for viable offsets projects at the early stages of implementation of a cap and trade system, including how both offset developers and emitters of greenhouse gases may benefit from implementation of an offsets system.
THE SERIES
This program is the third in a 13-part series, "Understanding the New Climate and Energy Legal Landscape," that explains the real world impact of the fast moving developments surrounding climate and energy, demystifies the key provisions and negotiating points left before Congress, and uncovers the potential windfalls and pitfalls of this highly complex restructuring of environmental and energy law. Each program is taught by those helping to craft this new regulatory regime and those examining it with a critical eye so you can understand what this new landscape will mean for clients and for your future practice. Part 4 of the series, "Beyond Cap-and-Trade: Regulating Sources, Setting Standards," will be on December 2.
Register now for the entire Telephone Series or Audio Webcast Series and save over 30%!
Faculty
Christopher J. Adamo, Legislative Counsel, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Washington, D.C.
David Bookbinder, Senior Attorney, Environmental Law Program, Sierra Club, Washington, D.C.
Kyle W. Danish, Van Ness Feldman, Washington, D.C.
Sara S. Kendall, Vice President, Environment, Health and Safety, Weyerhaeuser, Federal Way, Washington
Roger R. Martella, Jr., Sidley Austin LLP, Washington, D.C. (moderator)
Although each program in this series stands alone, why not sign up for all 13? Not only will you save over 30% on your registration fees, but you'll also gain a more complete understanding of the various challenges arising during a time of revolutionary change in climate change and energy law. Register now for the Telephone Series or Audio Webcast Series. ELI Associates can receive an additional discount, and should contact Marcia McMurrin for details.
Program Schedule
(All times Eastern Standard)
12:30 p.m. Program Begins
1:45 p.m. Questions and Answers
2:00 p.m. Adjournment
Total 60-minute hours of instruction: 1.5; Total 50-minute hours: 1.8Please note: MCLE approval has been applied for in AL, CO, DE, GA, IN, IA, KY, MS, NE, NH, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, and WA. ALI-ABA is a presumptively approved provider in AK, AZ, AR, CA, IL, ME, MO, MN, NE, NM, NY, ND, RI, SC, VT, and WI. Participants must submit for approval on their own in FL, ID, OR, WV, and WY. We will apply after-the-fact for credit in LA and MN upon request.
Times
Eastern 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Central 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Mountain 10:30 am – 12:00 noon
Pacific 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Alaska 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Hawaii 7:30 am – 9:00 am
