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BC3 Seminars
“Credible, effective and publicly acceptable policies to decarbonise the European Union”

Prof. Maria D. Carvalho

Policy analyst

Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment

Abstract:

This seminar investigates the extent to which current policies and institutional arrangements are fit for purpose for the new decarbonisation phase into which the EU is entering. It summarises the main findings from the Statkraft research programme, ‘“Fit-for-purpose” energy and climate change mitigation policies for the European Union’, completed in December 2017.

Headline issues

–  The existing imbalance between carbon pricing (embedded in the EU ETS) and subsidies for the decarbonisation of electricity is costly, and does not create a level playing field between current and future power generation assets.

–  Successful decarbonisation of the power sector requires trust in a credible policy and institutional framework. Credibility has many dimensions, some of which take time to influence. However, fast improvements are possible in several areas.

–  The EU’s climate targets cannot be met through power sector decarbonisation alone. Introducing carbon pricing instruments through domestic carbon taxes is an effective way to incentivise emissions reductions outside the EU ETS and make all polluters pay. There are design options to make carbon taxes more acceptable to the public.

Lecturer´s Personal Webpage

http://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/profile/maria-carvalho/

About the Lecturer

Maria works as a policy analyst for the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & Environment (GRI) at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She currently leads on policy research and engagement on decarbonisation efforts in the Americas; along with managing the development of an international program on the ‘Research Network on Energy Workforce Transitions’, which includes researchers from BC3 and UPV/EHU.  Previously, she worked on the joint GRI-Statkraft program on ‘Credible, effective and publicly acceptable policies to decarbonise the European Union’, which included leading analysis on the implications of Brexit on both EU and UK climate policy efforts.

Maria holds a PhD with the Geography and Environment Department at the LSE (2015), an MSc in Environmental Policy & Regulation (2007 with Distinction), and a BAH in Economics & Development at Queen’s University, Canada (2006 with First Class Honours).

Prior to her PhD, Maria worked for New Energy Finance (later acquired by Bloomberg) in the Carbon Markets team. She has also consulted for the World Bank, the UN Commission on Trade and Development, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Overseas Development Institute, UCL’s Green Economy Policy Commission, LSE Cities and LSE GRI.