Study Tour on the Implementation of an Emissions Trading System for Ukrainian Expert Delegation

In late September 2015, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine (MENR) published a draft concept for the implementation of a national emissions trading system (ETS) starting in 2017, which would aim to be ready to link with the European Union (EU) ETS in 2019. The concept identifies emissions trading as the main national policy instrument to harness the low-carbon potential of Ukraine’s energy-intensive sectors by 2030. The ETS will also help Ukraine fulfill its international obligations with regard to emissions reductions, as well as revive carbon finance and investments into low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies.

To support the development of the national ETS in Ukraine, adelphi was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) to organize a study tour for the ETS implementation team, which consisted of experts from the MENR, the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

During a five-day study tour, which took place in Berlin, the participants had the opportunity to learn about the regulatory and institutional framework of the EU ETS and the implementation particularities in Germany. Presentations and discussions covered such issues as the role of the German Emission Trading Authority (DEHSt), establishing and maintaining registry, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems and other topics. The delegation also presented the draft implementation plan for the Ukrainian ETS and engaged in detailed discussions with the experts from the BMUB, DEHSt, DIW Econ, FutureCamp and adelphi on potential challenges, options and open questions with regard to the draft.

The study tour is part of adelphi’s "Sharing knowledge, developing skills: Capacity Building on Emissions Trading Systems" project, which is implemented in cooperation with its project partners DIW Econ and FutureCamp.