Analisi Sociologica delle Prime Fasi di Creazione e Design degli Emissions Trading Markets

The global challenge of climate warming has prompted economists and policy-makers to develop a solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere that is both efficient and flexible in terms of containing the costs required to undertake measures to curb rising temperatures. The attempt to address climate change through a market-based solution gave birth to emissions trading markets. This thesis is an overview of some of the fundamental sociological and economic dynamics involved in the construction and initiation of the most significant emission trading projects. On different scales, the analysis involves the international emissions market based on the Kyoto Protocol's project-based schemes (notably the Clean Development Mechanism); while cap-and-trade systems include the BP scheme, a paradigmatic example among those conceived within corporate borders; the US federal sulphur dioxide market; and finally, the thesis concludes with an in-depth consideration of the early operation of the European Union's emissions trading system.