Emissions Trading: Using Markets to Bring Back Blue Skies

Christine Loh, OBE, CEO of Civic Exchange

Environment Committee Financial Services Committee

Christine Loh, OBE, is the CEO of Civic Exchange, an independent non-profit, public policy think tank established in Hong Kong. She will provide an overview of the key concepts of different plans to combat air pollution through various market mechanisms, including emissions trading. The presentation will outline some successful trading experiences around the world, in the U.S. and European Union, and will explore the spread of emissions trading schemes around the world, particularly in the U.S. Loh will discuss the relevance of emissions trading for China and explore the prospects of the recently announced voluntary emissions trading scheme for power plants in Hong Kong and Guangdong for improving regional air quality.

Ms. Loh has been involved in environmental policy since 1985, including having chaired the Environmental Affairs Panel of the Hong Kong Legislative Council from 1995-1997 and 1998-2000. She is a lawyer by training and has been a physical commodities trader by profession (1980-1991), a business strategist (1992-1994) and a politician (1992-2000) prior to taking on her present role.

Ms. Loh has a long track record working on air quality issues, both in Hong Kong and China, and is an international advisory member to the G8+ 5 Climate Change Dialogue. She is also a director of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing and serves on the boards and advisory bodies of numerous organizations. Her rare combination of skills and experience makes her a leading voice in Hong Kong on many aspects of politics and public policy. Ms. Loh is the co-author of the recently released Civic Exchange report: "The Emissions Game - How Markets Can Help Save the Planet".