Towards Kyoto -Implementation of Long Term Agreements (LTA) in industry: which elements make LTA successful and how to integrate them into the policy mix?

Panel: Panel 1: Assessment of Energy Efficiency Policy

Author:
Otto Starzer, The Austrian Energy Agency (EVA)

Abstract

The paper presents results from the ongoing pilot action "Implementation of Long Term Agreements in industry: Improving LTA schemes in Austria, Italy and Norway" supported by the European Commission, DG Energy and Transport (SAVE Programme) and by national sources.

In this project LTA are understood to be "negotiated agreements" (B?key et al. 1999) aiming to improve industrial energy efficiency. Based on the assessment of existing national LTA schemes in the EU, the project team analysed different types of negotiated agreements and identified crucial elements necessary for the successful implementation of this instrument on the national level.

The results of this analysis were used to develop draft schemes for negotiated agreements in the participating countries together with an initial proposal on how to integrate negotiated agreements into the existing policy mix, taking into account national (e.g. taxes, regulations) as well as European (e.g. IPPC) and international (Kyoto protocol) policy aspects.

These draft schemes are currently checked by interviews with key actors in each country (representatives from industrial associations, chamber of commerce, ministries, energy intensive companies etc.), in order to refine the schemes and to work out recommendations for policy makers. The paper presents the results of the analysis and discusses crucial elements as well as different approaches on how to design and integrate LTA schemes in the Austrian policy mix, in order to be effective towards the realisation of the Kyoto targets.