November 2008: The Second Session of the UN Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) Ad Hoc Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity
Production from Coal and Other Fossil Fuels will be held on 17-18 November
2008, in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting is taking place in the framework of
the growing world demand for electricity and the push for more environmentally
sustainable power generation, which are projected to require massive
investments in the coming years.

On the first day, participants will evaluate progress
in moving towards cleaner electricity production from fossil fuels, including
the status of large-scale projects that require a suitable regulatory framework
to attract investment. Participants are also scheduled to take stock of the
current markets, namely compliance markets such as the EU Emissions Trading
Scheme and the Kyoto Protocol, but also the growing voluntary markets.
They
will discuss progress in setting a global agenda for the years after 2012, and
how member States are preparing for the post-2012 period. On the second day of
the meeting, participants will address carbon capture and storage (CCS)
awareness and readiness in particular in the UNECE emerging economies, as well
as required assistance in the development of compatible regulatory frameworks.
Presentations will be made on: the current state of CCS technology and market
developments; development of enabling legal and regulatory framework including
the launch of the CCS Regulator’s Network; financing CCS projects; status of
deployment of CCS in Europe and North America; CCS awareness and readiness in
the UNECE emerging economies; and contribution of CCS to energy security and
sustainable development. [Meeting Website]
[Meeting
Agenda]