About this episode
New ideas on reaching climate targets as COP30 gets underway
In this episode of The Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie sits down with Bruegel’s Georg Zachmann and professor Jos Delbeke, former Director General of the European Commission’s climate division, to discuss how Europe can use its ambitious climate targets to best catalyse global decarbonisation. Zachmann proposes to develop the European Emission Trading System into an anchor for mitigation activities in other sectors and countries. Delbeke acknowledges the need to enhance the ETS so that it can continue to play its important role in the efficient decarbonisation of the EU economy. But he cautions against a direct use of foreign mitigation credits in EU trading systems. Ten years after the Paris accord, how can Europe be more proactive in the global debate and make the most of this year’s UN climate conference?
Related research:
In this episode of The Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie sits down with Bruegel’s Georg Zachmann and professor Jos Delbeke, former Director General of the European Commission’s climate division, to discuss how Europe can use its ambitious climate targets to best catalyse global decarbonisation. Zachmann proposes to develop the European Emission Trading System into an anchor for mitigation activities in other sectors and countries. Delbeke acknowledges the need to enhance the ETS so that it can continue to play its important role in the efficient decarbonisation of the EU economy. But he cautions against a direct use of foreign mitigation credits in EU trading systems. Ten years after the Paris accord, how can Europe be more proactive in the global debate and make the most of this year’s UN climate conference?
Related research:
- Zachmann, G. (2025) 'A Strawman Proposal to Use International Flexibility in Achieving Developed Countries Climate Targets to Catalyse Global Decarbonisation', De Gruyter Bill
- Europe’s energy future: balancing climate goals and competitiveness, Bruegel event, 14 November 2025
- International decarbonisation through coalitions of the willing: carbon pricing, climate finance, trade and nature, Bruegel event, 20 November 2025
Get every episode summarized
Each time The Sound of Economics publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from The Sound of Economics
What the heck is a 28th Regime?
The Sound of Economics
Mar 25, 202646:45failed
Italy and Europe
The Sound of Economics
Mar 18, 202638:27failed
First assessment of China's 15th Five-Year Plan
The Sound of Economics
Mar 13, 202631:08completed
Inflation, Iran and the Industrial Accelerator Act
The Sound of Economics
Mar 11, 202653:53failed