Organised at the initiative of the Dutch embassy in Tokyo, the Emission Trading seminar on the 11th June 2008 looked at the future policy and the next phases of Emission Trading systems. Essent Trading co-organised the event and was also present as part of the panel discussion. A particular aim of the discussion was to see how emissions could be tackled within industrial sectors.

Both Japan and the EU are particularly committed to taking the lead in the discussion of future CO2 policy. The key question is what the future system will be like, either a so called sector approach as suggested by Japan, or a cap and trade system like the EUTS or perhaps a possible combination of the two. The moment is opportune to exchange views and encourage debate, as the event is only a few weeks before the G8 discussion in Hokkaido.

The seminar brought together decision makers from Japan and the Netherlands and the Netherlands' Minister of Economic Affairs, Ms. Marie van der Hoeven gave the keynote speech. Next to the Dutch minister, high-level officials from the Netherlands' Ministry of Environment; METI; Nippon Keidanren; Royal Dutch Shell and Nippon Steel were there to share their views on the future of emission policies.

For more information and the possibility of downloading the speeches, please see the link here .