University of Groningen
Obstacles to linking emissions trading systems in the EU and China Zeng, Yingying
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Publication date: 2018
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Zeng, Y. (2018). Obstacles to linking emissions trading systems in the EU and China: A comparative law and economics perspective. University of Groningen.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We all know that the King Sisyphus in Greek mythology was made to endlessly push a huge boulder up a steep hill. It was the French philosopher Albert Camus who reasoned that ‘Il faut imaginer Sisyphe heureux’ (‘One must imagine Sisyphus happy’), despite the seemingly ‘Sisyphean’ nature of his act. The logic is simple: Sisyphus is conscious when returning back to the plain (to push the rock), therefore he is happy. And just like him, we all consciously choose ‘rock(s) to push in our life’: committing to an effortful and occasionally excruciating relationship, having babies who never cease to cry, or pursuing an academic career by vigilantly phrasing research questions, carefully proposing orchestrated solutions, waiting in a reflective mood for a ‘quick and merciful death’ at the hands of those reviewers, and secretly hoping that it could mean something for someone somewhere …
Fortunately, during the journey of consciousness, I am constantly surrounded by colleagues, friends and family who have been supporting and inspiring me.
First of all, I would like to thank my promotors: Prof. Stefan E. Weishaar and Prof. Hans H. B. Vedder. Stefan, I am deeply grateful for your close supervision and kind support every step of the way. From all those inspirational talks we had over the years, I have learned so much from you, the scientific writing and speaking skills, detail orientation, tremendous amount of patience and the deep devotion to the career. Those will undoubtedly benefit my career hereafter. Hans, thank you very much for being enormously open-minded and supportive, both emotionally and intellectually. I will always remember the ‘argument’ you had with the editor of the journal, together with the valuable lesson – we should be courageous and visionary to do what is right (and just let the chips fall where they may), even when it did not seem ‘smart’ at the time. My thanks also go out to my previous promotor Oscar
Couwenberg, who taught me how to be still in the middle of everything. I am very grateful for your encouragements as well as the valuable life lessons you shared.
I would also like to thank my previous supervisor at Peking University: Professor Zining Jin, who has been incredibly supportive and caring all along, my deepest gratitude for leading a ‘stubborn and ignorant economist’ into the discipline of law, for setting an exemplary role model as academic; Professor Xiaoming Ma, who utilizes academic insights and practical expertise in a charmingly witty manner, thank you so much for including me into the various policy projects and showing me the true joy as an academic. Thanks to both of you, I gained first-hand experience of carbon trade when contributing to the legislation and other policy-making in the first Chinese pilot system (Shenzhen), which undoubtedly laid a very crucial basis for this dissertation, intellectually and practically.
I also wish to thank Prof. Michael G. Faure, Prof. Maosheng Duan and Prof. Kars J. de Graaf for taking the time to read the original manuscript and for their positive feedback on the dissertation. As a scholar in Law & Economic discipline, I deeply appreciate Michael’s invaluable recognition and heartwarming help with my career, as well as Prof. Duan’s remarkable insights and useful advice on many substantive aspects of the thesis.
A special word of gratitude to my paranymphs. Charis van den Berg, with your accompany, I never felt truly alone. I will forever remember those passion and struggles we shared, your creativity and compassion, determination and courage to embark on a painstaking journey of discovering and being the true self (despite all those unfortunate mundane obstructions). Xinyu has remained a great friend over the years, who continuously offers a listening ear, a sharp critique of my boundary ‘delusions’ and strongly communicates an invaluable sense of social responsibility.
The Law & Economics team has enriched my PhD life in so many valuable ways. Suryapratim Roy has enlightened my academic life in so many delighting ways. More importantly, you have showed me ways of respecting and further utilizing the ‘delicate ecology of our fleeting delusions’. Fitsum Tiche, I am deeply grateful for your trust and compassionate support every step of the way. I hope one day you will be able to see the great influence you have on people (me included) as a ‘master’ of words and great discretion. Thijs Jong, your enormously friendly, helpful and candid character has made the early stage of my PhD life in Groningen so pleasantly warm. Teo Tuinstra, a big ‘dank je wel’ for the joy and laughter you bring to us, together with the very efficient ‘cross-cultural rehabilitation’ in the delighting
form of croquettes. I would also like to thank Anneke Heins, Edwin Woerdman and Han Scholten for their lovely hospitality and kind encouragements.
My colleagues and friends in the Netherlands have also been constant inspirations and made this journey even more enjoyable. Jaap Waverijn has been a very good and caring friend over the years, whose sharp discerning eyes and encouraging faith helped to navigate some of the most challenging conundrums in my professional and personal life. I took great pleasure in those conversations that began in confusion (mostly, mine), through wisdom (mostly yours), and ended in delight (hopefully, ours). I am also very grateful for Marilyn Both’s and Anita Kram’s pleasant accompany. Marilyn’s enlightening optimism and Anita’s kind help truly remain a crucial part of ‘institutional support’ and, more importantly, warm up my heart. Lea Diestelmeier, who has been so intelligently charming and emotionally empathetic, a big ‘Vielen Dank’ for offering thought advice and sharing your insights. I would also like to express my gratitude to Jan N. Bouwman, who generously supported my internship at United Nations in Germany; Aynur Erdogan, a lovely lady who is intellectually and inspiringly interesting; Jan Bakkes whose vast experience at PBL and insights broadened my career vision. My thanks also go out to Jeroen Reith, Lucía Berro Pizzarossa, Ruohong Chen, Dirk van der Meulen, Jacque Daoud, Nineke Groefsema, Jan L. bij de Leij, Nico J. Schutte, Martin J. Boer, Arjen J. van Herwaarden, David Kopalit, Margarita Nieves Zárate, Dirk Kuiken, Margreet Smilde, Irene Burgers, Fungo Augustus, Frans A. Nelissen, Lala Bregvadze, Greeshma Pradhan and Mami Gelens, who have made this journey pleasantly warm.
My Chinese friends, abroad and at home, have perpetuated a delusional-yet-delighting feeling of ‘at home’. My deep gratitude goes out to Feifei, my caring ‘sister’ with brilliant mathematician mind; Yu Lei, whose decisive character and sharp discerning intuition continuously inspire me; my beloved Qiaoling, a considerate and undoubtedly strong lady who continuously motivates me; Cong, a lady who courageously spares no effort to realize her dreams; Manqi, a charmingly open-minded lady who opens a new door for me – I’m not just thinking about France – and I deeply appreciate your invaluable help with the designing of cover picture; Yu Sun, a lovely lady with pristine and intelligent beauty; Bin, a girl with encouraging passion and plethora of energy; Keni, a talented lady who courageously follows your dreams and took such good care of me; Qi Xu, many thanks for initiating so many inspiring discussions; Yi Zhang who courageously speaks up for your friends; Huatang Cao, who kindly helped me out of the ‘moving troubles’ …
There are so many friends I wish we could have communicated more often, and your presence and accompany continuously embolden me to embark on the journey. A special word of gratitude goes to Hua Li, Biyun Lan, Ying Gao, Janet Zhe Yuan, Amelia Sun, Carol Tang, Chengming Hu, Qiong Fan, Susan Huang, Hao Lv, Lili Li, Zongchao Jia, Jingjing Jiang, Jie Su, Binyu Liu, Meng Cai, Xinqi Dai, Liang Xue. You know we would always be there for each other.
In the academic year 2017-18, I had the privilege of spending half a year interning at secretariat of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany. My time there has helped to shape my career vision and some of the ideas in this dissertation, in particular, regarding how to situate the ETSs linkage in the global context of addressing climate change. I am deeply grateful for Sana Lingorsky, who kindly encouraged and supported me as a ‘big sister’, friend and mentor during my wobbly and weak moments. More importantly, you teach me what ‘grace’ is and set an exemplary role model for my professional career, as a conscientious civil server and effective team leader. I am also very grateful for the supervision and constructive feedback from my supervisor Miwa Kato, whose deep devotion to the work has continuously motivated me.
Specifically, I have spent three interesting and indelible periods by working with three different teams, respectively at Adaptation program, Conference of Parties (COP 23) presidency team and Sustainable Development Mechanisms (SDM). The professional habits and mindset I developed during the work with my highly professional colleagues will undoubtedly benefit my entire career. I will be forever grateful for the delighting inspirations, thoughtful advices and kind help from my lovely colleagues and friends: Jiajing, Wei, Chad, Minako, Ruiqi, Petya, Carolina, Viktoria, Daniel, Ronald, Jennifer, Ta-Yu, Sharon; the encouraging and friendly vibe collectively created by my warmhearted colleagues: Quim, Marina, Susan, Andrea, Gyungae, Peter, Pierre, Maurice, Maxine; the kind and insightful encouragements from Youssef, Lara, Ann, Katrin, Chris, Koko, Geeta, Olga and Thilani…
In particular, I would like to thank the Chief Negotiators of COP 22 & COP 23: Ambassador Mekouar and Ambassador Khan, for their earnest words and heartwarming encouragements. Their insights shed a light on questions I’ve been struggling with for years, e.g. on either ‘walking out of’ or, most likely, ‘circumventing’ the ‘tragedy of commons’ while still making substantial progress. These conversations constantly remind me to stay vigilant, to safeguard the fundamental-but-underrepresented element, which has been institutionally eclipsed
by the painstaking process of building global climate governance architecture and by varied interest of parties.
My thanks also go out to my lovely and supportive friends at church: Esther, Irene, Tirsa, Margreeth and her family, Miramsyrela, Vivian, Joyce, Harminav, Yuejiao… My hosts in Germany and France: my beloved Cornelia, Jonas, Wolle and Marlène, thank you so much for taking good care of me and your heart-warming efforts to make me feel at home. A very special gratitude goes to China Scholarship Council (CSC) for providing the valuable funding for the work.
Last, I would like to express my deep gratitude for my beloved Mum, who offers me unconditional love and incredible understanding, and my beloved Dad, whose writings and wisdom continuously teach me that ‘Life, albeit fleeting, should and
could mean something’.
