Publication

This paper discusses the first round of implementation of the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) in the form of the drawing up of National Allocation Plans (NAPs). It focuses on three key EU greenhouse gas emitters: Germany, Spain and the UK. It argues whether the differences among these countries, with varying pre-existing climate policy mix and varying institutional fit with the instrument of emissions trading, can shed light upon differing NAP implementation and performance. The authors points out the need for a slowdown of the tempo in EU ETS policymaking in order to improve institutional fit and transnational communication and learning.