The first Climate Talk discussion revolved around "Climate Protection and Competition", as the contemporaneous debates between EU member states about the National Allocation Plans had raised many questions about climate protection measures and the distortion of competition. Presentations were given by Dr. Simon Marr (Deutsche Emissionshandelsstelle – DEHSt) and Steffen Hentrich (Rat von Sachverständigen für Umweltfragen – SRU).

Dr. Marr provided a short introduction into the status of European emissions trading and described the effects of climate protection related measures on competition. Mr. Hentrich built upon the previous speech and explained how various methods of allocation aimed at emission certificates can lead to a distortion of competition.

In the ensuing discussion a wide range of possible approaches and problems - both in theory and in practice- were presented. The discussion continued into the early evening and was eventually moved to a nearby location, where the evening drew to a relaxed close.