Climate Change & Carbon Management
Alston & Bird’s climate change and carbon management lawyers have truly unique experience in the development and implementation of the full range of greenhouse gas risk management and monetization strategies. Our leadership in this area was recently highlighted when one of our lawyers was asked by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to provide testimony on the policy issues associated with carbon sequestration. We support a blog addressing a variety of rapidly moving issues associated with greenhouse gas emissions.
Our carbon-related services include project development, carbon finance and trading, legislative and regulatory advocacy, risk consultation, and litigation. The group offers non-legal consulting capabilities, as well. A key member of our team is Geir Vollsaeter, former general manager of CO2 issues for Shell International and known worldwide for his expertise on carbon-related issues, especially in the field of carbon capture and storage. Geir's consulting services include assessments and strategy development for carbon emissions reductions throughout the energy value chain, with a focus on technology, regulation, and the life cycle of CO2.
We represent both existing energy companies as well as new enterprises that have been specifically organized to exploit trading and development opportunities in carbon mitigation and capture. We have unique experience in matters related to carbon capture and storage (CCS), widely perceived to be one of the most promising carbon management technologies. We provide carbon management strategic advice to airline, CCS companies and major oil and coal companies.
Our lawyers have been active from the beginning of the carbon market in assisting our clients in the trading of carbon credit assets in the United States, the EU and other jurisdictions. We have also pioneered techniques for incorporating the value of carbon emission reductions in the financing of infrastructure projects, where carbon-related cash flows can be crucial to a project’s success. Likewise, effective participation in this market requires a thorough understanding of the array of regulatory considerations that create unique risks and opportunities for commodity CO2 assets.
On the policy front, Alston & Bird formed and represents the major trade association addressing carbon sequestration issues. We have also accepted an appointment from President Clinton’s Global Initiative through the Center for American Progress to support the development of CDM projects in developing companies and serves regularly as an expert commentator on various scientific and policy publications, most recently in connection with the Discussion Paper for the Second Annual International Energy Agency/Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum Workshop on the Legal Aspects of Storing Carbon Dioxide. We are routinely asked to peer review legal and policy papers worldwide on topics such as carbon management and CCS.