Carbon Policy

Around the world, over 1000 carbon policy measures to reduce carbon emissions have been implemented, with varying degrees of effectiveness. In many cases the level of carbon abatement achieved as a result of a policy is unknown and unquantifiable because it simply has not been measured. The consequence of failing to measure savings is wasted energy efficiency investments of up to billions of dollars globally. Moreover, the actual carbon abatement may be much lower than if a...
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Around the world, over 1000 carbon policy measures to reduce carbon emissions have been implemented, with varying degrees of effectiveness. In many cases the level of carbon abatement achieved as a result of a policy is unknown and unquantifiable because it simply has not been measured. The consequence of failing to measure savings is wasted energy efficiency investments of up to billions of dollars globally. Moreover, the actual carbon abatement may be much lower than if a methodological approach had been employed based on a rigorous Measurement and Verification (M&V) plan. With the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide now around 400 parts per million (ppm) and rising at close to 3 ppm per annum understanding the efficiency and effectiveness of carbon abatement policy is ever more critical, particularly in a world with considerable economic uncertainty. Carbon Policy - How robust measurement and verification can improve policy effectiveness, puts forward the case for incorporating more robust M&V (also known as Measurement Reporting and Verification,MRV) - in the synthesis and assessment of carbon abatement policy. The focus of this book is on policies that aim to reduce the energy use and resultant carbon emissions of buildings, but the principle of rigorous M&V can and should be applied to all carbon abatement policies. It examines a range of policy types, provides case studies, and shows how to incorporate robust measurement and verification into policy design and management.