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CARBON FORUM AMERICA SETS THE STAGE FOR EMISSION TRADING IN THE US

CARBON FORUM AMERICA IN SAN FRANCISCO EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATIONS
Chicago/Geneva/Cologne/Washington/ Ottawa

After two days of conference sessions, exhibitor presentations via “Side Events“ and interaction on the trade show floor, Carbon Forum America came to a close at the Moscone Center in San Francisco where the event took place on February 26-27, 2008.  The event was jointly organized between the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the Chicago-based show organizer Koelnmesse, Inc.

More than 1,400 companies, consultants and other delegates, including 80 exhibitors, felt the buzz of this first time event which surpassed all expectations making it the largest carbon trade fair and conference ever held on US soil. This massive interest in the future of cap and trade system in the US is closely linked to expectations created by California’s exploration of State-level trading of greenhouse gas emissions allowances. In addition, interest was fueled by the RGGI alliance of North-East States proposing a trading system and the many Bills before Congress. 39 US States are now involved in the US Climate Registry.

Delegates heard a message of support from California Senator Diane Feinstein and addresses from UN climate change officials, the World Bank and California gas utility Pacific Gas and Electric before breaking into sessions. Said Henry Derwent, President and CEO of the International Emissions Trading Association: “The success of Carbon Forum America is a vote of confidence for emissions trading in the US.This event – twice the size of any previous event in the US – shows that interest in emissions trading in the US is rapidly approaching the levels in the heart of Europe’s emissions trading scheme. Worldwide, carbon trade has doubled in the past year to $ 60 billion and the Congressional Budget Office have suggested it could reach $ 300 billion in the United States in the future.

Added Mette Petersen, President of Koelnmesse Inc. “Over the last 12 months we have seen many small conferences in the US on this topic. Our goal was to create something new and different which would provide a higher level of interaction for this community. The 80 companies who opted to present themselves on our trade show floor overwhelmingly embraced this opportunity and gave us very positive feedback.

We are also delighted with the broad interest from around the world with delegates representing more than 30 countries.”

CARBON FORUM AMERICA (CFA) is the first Industry Trade Show and Conference for the emerging CO2 US market. CFA is a sister event of CARBON EXPO in

Cologne, Germany and CARBON FORUM Asia in Singapore and is jointly organized by Koelnmesse Inc. and the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)

Request for copies of the Conference Proceedings and future attendance should be directed to:  Mr. Darrin Stern, Koelnmesse Inc. Phone: +1 773-326-9925 d.sternkoelnmesse.us
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