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Emissions trading
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Thick smoke billows from an industrial smokestack, spreading across the sky and blending with clouds. Side-by-side diagrams compare command-and-control and cap-and-trade approaches to pollution control. The left shows both Plant A and Plant B each reducing emissions by 50 tons, resulting in higher total costs. The right shows cap-and-trade, where Plant A reduces emissions by 75 tons and Plant B by 25 tons, with Plant B paying Plant A for extra reductions, leading to lower overall costs. Emission levels, reduction amounts, and costs are labeled for both methods.

Emissions trading: References & Edit History

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    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Article title updated for style. Nov 10, 2026
Modified title of Web site: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety - What is emissions trading? Aug 16, 2019
Add new Web site: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety - What is emissions trading? Nov 13, 2018
Add new Web site: European Commission - EU Emissions Trading System. Nov 13, 2018
Diagram of command-and-control and cap-and-trade systems added. Apr 11, 2012
New article added. Jan 17, 2012
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