About Energy Studies Institute

ESI hosted its 7th Workshop on Carbon Pricing with the theme of Carbon Pricing at COP30 and Its Implications on 16^th January 2026. The workshop began with remarks from Prof. Lee Poh Seng, ESI Executive Director, to welcome around 70 attendees, including 7 overseas speakers from Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. In the first session, speakers introduced the European Union’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and why CBAM was a hot issue at COP30. They explained the potential conflict surrounding CBAM implementation, and examined other countries’ political responses and strategies to deal with CBAM. The second session focused on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the development of global carbon markets. Speakers provided a clear overview of Article 6 implementation status and discussed the growth and challenges of carbon credit projects. In the following panel discussion, participants explored key carbon pricing topics that will likely be addressed at upcoming COP31 and shared their insights on the linkage between CBAM and carbon markets, the environmental integrity of carbon credits, and the implications of multilateral joint initiatives to promote carbon markets. They also highlighted the importance of clear guidelines for carbon credits and of establishing a proper, robust monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) framework.

On 3–4 December, ESI hosted a closed-door workshop at the Hotel Grand Copthorne Waterfront on Gas Market Dynamics, Uncertainties, and the Changing Landscape, bringing together speakers and participants from Singapore and abroad to explore the evolving market landscape, risks, and uncertainties shaping international gas markets. The workshop explored how global and regional gas markets are navigating volatility amid ongoing market restructurings. Key topics included energy security and demand-supply trajectories, as well as international market trends, environmental implications, and geopolitical risks. The participants also discussed growing uncertainties around evolving regulations, challenges in the natural gas market, and the role of natural gas in the ongoing energy transition.