An increasing number of emissions trading initiatives are being developed throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Each follows the domestic priorities and international policy of the country concerned. Some are carbon markets along
familiar lines, others are focused on energy savings, and are grappling with intensity, rather than absolute, targets and different levels of engagement with international markets. This stream of workshops will address what will
their scope and role be, and how will they fit with the UN market and the global market of the future.

While the demand for emissions-reduction projects continues to grow in Asia, and the CDM remains the market leader, problems over CDM governance and administration are matters of growing concern to the market. The CDM
reform agenda needs to respond to the concerns of Asian developers and investors. But with eyes focused on non-CDM demand from the US, and perhaps other buyers following a US lead, project promoters may need to have
an eye to new methodologies and governance regimes. What threats and opportunities does the expansion of the international offset system provide for Asia?

The gap between the size of low-carbon investment needs in Asia and any plausible size of a CDM market, even expanded by greater use of programmatic methodologies, grows wider with every new report published.
Since the Copenhagen Accord there has been a greater urgency about quantifying and providing funding from developed countries to help with the enormous financing task. But much more is still expected from the private sector
with little clarity about new mechanisms or incentives. What is needed from an Asian perspective, to meet the needs of Governments, private companies and investors? What is required of host country Governments? What will it
take to tap bond and insurance markets, and how can instruments that appeal to them be blended with public sector funding – from Governments and international financial institutions – and with the carbon market?