The development of the carbon markets on the back of laws designed to mitigate climate change has been swift. Billions of euros of emission rights are now being traded around the world under cap and trade markets such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and from projects under the Kyoto Protocol. This market looks set to expand significantly over the next few years, with a number of countries, including the United States and Australia, considered likely to introduce market-based climate change mitigation measures. In addition, climate change issues are now impacting on a number of other more traditional practice areas for lawyers, including litigation, transactional work and real estate.

Featuring a Preface by HRH The Prince of Wales, this important title introduces climate change law and describes how it has evolved. The book describes how carbon projects - particularly those under the Kyoto Protocol - are set up and operated, and how the credits from those projects are brought to the market. It also describes the operation of the carbon markets, with an exploration of how the current markets may be expanded to create a global market in the future. The final part considers how climate change issues are impacting on other areas such as accountancy and taxation, corporate social responsibility, transactions, litigation, competition and real estate.

This book provides an in-depth overview of the current climate change issues facing lawyers and other professionals, including accountants, consultants, bankers and tax advisers. It provides a valuable source of information for those new to this fast-evolving sector through to more experienced climate change professionals.