From May 27th to 29th international emissions trading was the topic at the Barcelona exhibition centre. Leading greenhouse gas (GHG) market representatives met there at the sixth CARBON EXPO to share experiences and gain knowledge of current topics and trends, technologies, projects and services. 276 exhibitors from 83 countries and around 3,000 visitors from 111 countries attended the carbon market’s leading global trade fair and conference for emissions trading, carbon abatement solutions and new technologies in Barcelona for the first time, organised by the World Bank, the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), Fira Barcelona and Koelnmesse. Among the exhibitors were high-level government representatives from 47 developing countries and countries with economies in transition, who, with support from the World Bank, presented their current emission reduction projects and the related investment and development opportunities.

New World Bank figures announced at CARBON EXPO show that the international emissions market continues its rapid growth. Announced at CARBON EXPO the global market doubled in 2008 and now totals US$126 billion (€90 billion) – despite the turmoil in the financial world. The report went on to say that long-term prospects for the market are strong. In light of the positive development of CARBON EXPO and the continuing growth for the global carbon emission reductions market the organisers were extremely pleased with the results of CARBON EXPO. In a joint statement they said: “The number of visitors and exhibitors testifies that despite the financial crisis, the importance of emissions trading is clear. We are pleased that we could bring together all relevant market players – companies, industrialized and developing countries. The positive response that we have received from exhibitors and visitors shows us that CARBON EXPO generated fresh momentum for the entire emissions trade and carbon market. Barcelona was indeed a good choice for CARBON EXPO as the venue.”

The Critical Role of Carbon Finance

This year’s CARBON EXPO featured again an extensive conference program. The participants benefited from the know-how of more than 250 speakers. Among these were a number of high-level speakers including José María Figueres Olsen, Former President of Costa Rica & Chairman of Metropolis Global, and Ruud Lubbers, Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Chairman of the Council for the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. Keynote speaker in the opening ceremony, attended by 1,100 participants, was Ricardo Lagos, Special Envoy on Climate Change for the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Former President of Chile and President of the Club Madrid. President Lagos laid out for the conference the current status of the international climate change negotiations and the crucial role that carbon finance must play in the future.

CARBON EXPO 2009 was the last major carbon market event on the road to the ministerial meeting in Copenhagen in December. Nine high level plenary sessions, 28 interactive workshops and 55 exhibitor’s side events took place during the last three days in which the present situation, current trends, future outlook and development possibilities were presented and discussed. The organisers addressed all aspects of the GHG market which were subdivided into a Project Stream, a Traders Stream, a New Market Stream and a Cities and Carbon Finance Stream. The Cities and Carbon Finance Stream showed that rapidly increasing urban populations, their need for power and water, and their vulnerability to climate change impacts make cities one of the most urgent areas for climate policy and action.

Carbon market doubles despite recession

CARBON EXPO 2009 started with a World Bank press conference releasing the “State and Trends of the Carbon Market 2009” report together with IETA’s fourth edition of the “GHG Market Sentiment Survey”. A large number of representatives from the international press visited the press conference to gain knowledge of the latest developments and trends in the carbon market.

According to the “State and Trends of the Carbon Market 2009”, the global carbon market increased from US$30 billion in 2006 to over US$64 billion in 2007, and has again doubled in 2008 to more than US$126 billion. However the report notes that the value of transactions from CDM projects in developing countries declined by 12% to an estimated US$6.5 billion in 2008 with an average price of US$16.8 per tonne of CO2e. The EU recently approved an Energy and Climate Change package committing to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020, with a promise to reduce even more if other countries join an international agreement to be negotiated in Copenhagen later this year.

The United States is also considering a comprehensive climate change policy. These two proposals together could present an opportunity to scale up the supply of emission reductions from developing countries. “As one response to the climate crisis a deep and global carbon market continues to hold the promise to deliver significant benefits to both developed and developing countries alike”, said Katherine Sierra, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development. The report cites a likely average demand of 560 – 600 million tonnes of CO2e per year from 2012-20 compared to just about 80 million tonnes of CO2e that was registered in the CDM in its best year so far.

CARBON EXPO 2010 heads back to Cologne, Germany From May 26 - 28, 2010 the World Bank, IETA and Koelnmesse will organise CARBON EXPO 2010 in Cologne, Germany, where five previous successful editions were held. The World Bank, IETA and Koelnmesse said in a joint statement. “The world’s solution to climate change must be defined in the next few years. CARBON EXPO 2009 in Barcelona showed the key role of carbon finance in the post 2012 world. CARBON EXPO 2010 which moves back to Cologne will add another chapter to this story in the light of the Copenhagen decisions. We are confident of another vibrant trade fair conference in 2010.”

CARBON EXPO 2009 in figures

The event had a wide international scope. A total of 276 companies from 83 countries participated in CARBON EXPO 2009, 92% of which came from outside Spain. A total of around 3,000 participants from 111 countries came to CARBON EXPO 2009.

Organization name: Koelnmesse Inc.
Country: Germany
Web: http://www.carbonexpo.com