Beijing’s Pilot Emission Trading System

With the objective to gradually establish a national carbon trading market and achieve the country’s goal of controlling GHG emissions, China’s National Development and Reform Commission approved 7 local governments as Emission Trading System (ETS) pilots in 2011, aiming to (1）contribute to effective control and reduction of carbon emissions; (2) achieve green and low carbon development; (3) mitigate haze pollution and emission of other pollutants for better air quality; and (4) develop a new financial mechanism for the market.

This case study was developed by the Asia LEDS Partnership and the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat, with support from the Climate Change Research Center of the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau. It summarizes a few key points regarding the experience of the Beijing ETS, which was launched in November 2013 as one of the seven pilots in China.