Update on the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP)
Climate Change Leadership Forum report number: 3
Briefing for the Climate Change Leadership Forum
Prepared by the Emissions Trading Group
Date: 31 March 2008
Developments since last report (21 February 2008)
Public Conference on Monitoring Reporting, Verification and Compliance
1. ICAP has announced a public conference on monitoring, reporting, verification, compliance and enforcement, hosted by the European Commission in Brussels on 19 and 20 April. The conference will examine experiences from existing or proposed emissions trading schemes and aim to find solutions to issues that could prevent future linking of carbon markets.
2. Participation in the conference is open to all stakeholders and a conference programme and registration information have been posted on the ICAP web site. The final agenda is yet to be placed on the website, however the Emissions Trading Group will advise the Leadership Forum when it is finalised. A link to the programme is attached to this report. Leah Murphy, of MoT/ETG will attend the workshop and present on the proposals for monitoring, reporting, compliance, enforcement and verification in the NZ ETS.
Australian membership of ICAP
3. Australia has been accepted as a member of ICAP. Australia’s membership was announced by Prime Minister Rudd in a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Brown on 7 April 2007
Australia and New Zealand Business and Climate Change Conference
4. New Zealand has raised with ICAP the possibility of an ICAP presence at the Australia/New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference in August 2008. ICAP members expressed interest in the conference and an openness to examine options for attendance (e.g. whether any ICAP members/representatives would be able to attend in person or via videoconferencing). New Zealand officials will liaise with ICAP members and Australian officials regarding options for ICAP participation in the conference.
New Zealand priority areas under ICAP
5. At his speech at the ICAP side event in Bali on 12 December 2007, Minister Parker highlighted areas where ICAP could have an important role to play in promoting effective international markets. These included issues such as rules relating to the use of Kyoto mechanisms like the Clean Development Mechanism and trade in AAUs. New Zealand officials will look to ensure that these issues are considered as the work programme for ICAP develops.
