Politique de l'effet de serre. Une évaluation du plan français de quotas de CO2

Abstract

Climate Policy. An Assessment of the French Plan of CO2 Quotas. Having in view the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol [1997] limiting greenhouse gas emissions, European Authorities decided to set up a European market of CO2 emission quotas for big emitters of industrial and energy sectors. This market is supposed to be operational since January 2005. Meanwhile, each member state, not the Commission, had to choose the level of the national emissions ceiling for this instrument, the list of plants that will be concerned and the rules for allocating quotas to existing and new facilities. The paper presents an assessment of the French final plan, as accepted in December 2004 by the European Commission after several adjustments of the initial plan. It considers both overall quantities affected and impacts of rules of the game on incentives given to business. As a result, choices made by the French government express a will to protect national industry and energy producers rather than to set appropriate economic incentives for an efficient and strong system in line with Kyoto commitments.