In May 2017, Ecologic Institute organised the 17th ICAP Training Course on Emissions Trading in Bangkok (Thailand). The course brought together experts from emerging economies and developing countries to learn about emissions trading as a tool for climate protection, and to discuss the options of implementing such systems in developing countries. The session continues a series of past ICAP events that Ecologic Institute organised across the world since 2009. Twenty-seven mid-career professionals from seven Asian countries as well as Benjamin Görlach and Pedro Barata led the course.

Ecologic Institute designed the curriculum and organized the course, which was carried out under the auspices of the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), with logistical support from Development Solutions. As local partners, Thailand Greenhouse Management Organisation supported the organisation of the course, which was hosted by the Sasa International House at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. The course was funded by the EU Commission.

During the two-week course, participants gained an in-depth understanding of the design and implementation of carbon trading systems as a tool to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. They had the opportunity to discuss various aspects of emissions trading with experienced practitioners from the government agencies in various countries, as well as from academia, think tanks and service providers. Speakers from California, China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Thailand contributed to the course.

Course topics addressed during the two weeks included the economics of climate change, choosing and combining policy instruments for climate protection, design and scope of emissions trading, allocation mechanisms, GHG inventories and registries, the link of domestic ETS to the international climate regime, carbon market dynamics, and other advanced aspects of ETS design and implementation. In discussing these issues, the course relied on interactive formats and group work, and made ample use of first-hand experience gained with the existing trading schemes in Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific region.

Decision makers and future leaders from government, NGOs and the private sector attended the course. The 27 participants from China, India, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam were selected from well over one hundred applicants.