The Atomium, Brussels

Clean & Prosperous Institute

BRUSSELS & BEYOND

Lessons From Europe’s 20 Years of Carbon Markets

Sunday, May 25 to Friday, May 30, 2025

Clean and Prosperous Institute is excited to announce its 5th Annual Study Mission!  This May we will be crossing the Atlantic to learn from Europe’s twenty years of experience with their carbon pricing program—the European Trading Systems (ETS).

The ETS is credited with reducing emissions across the 27-member European Union by 38% from 1990 levels.  Our study mission will engage with EU’s Directorate General for Climate and international carbon markets.  We will learn about the ETS history and future ambition of the program.  Specific topics will cover sustainable aviation fuels, green hydrogen production, maritime decarbonization, investment from the Social Climate Fund and the planned implementation of the carbon border adjustment mechanism.

As always, we will integrate site visits to key de-carbonization sites in Brussels and sites around the EU Capital, including the ArcelorMittal steel plant in Ghent.

On our return through Iceland, we will tour the Mammoth project, the world’s largest direct air capture and storage facility.

Please join us and other business, policy and legislative leaders to increase our understanding of how carbon cap and invest programs can accelerate our state’s carbon emissions reduction results.

Itinerary

Sat. May 24th: Travel to Brussels, Belgium

  • Icelandair, #FI680 (arrives Sunday AM)

Sun. May 25th: Welcome Dinner, Warwick Hotel, Brussels 

  • Walking tour of the Grand Place [Optional] 

Mon. May 26th: Meetings with Directorate General for CLIMA Office 

  • The European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) has been in operation for 20 years.  Learn from EU leaders about the history and future of this program, credited with helping the EU reduce carbon emissions 38% from 1990 levels. 
  • Dinner at Atomium. 

Tues. May 27th: Carbon Reduction in Action 

  • Site visits in Ghent and Antwerp, including a tour of the ArcelorMittal steel manufacturing plant.  Learn from leaders at Lanzatech how they are converting carbon dioxide into useful industrial feedstocks. 

Wed. May 28th: Briefings with European NGOs and businesses 

  • The Nature Conservancy, Amazon and other leading carbon-reduction entities have their European headquarters in Brussels.  Learn about innovative initiatives in the business and non-profit sectors. 

Thurs. May 29th: Travel to Reykjavik, Iceland, a Seattle Sister City 

  • Icelandair, #FI555 

Fri, May 30th: Tour Climeworks Mammoth project, the world’s largest Direct Air Carbon Capture project and meet with Carbfix to learn how the company is sequestering carbon in basalt fields

  • Travel to Seattle, Icelandair, #FI681 

 

OPTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF ICELAND TOUR

Friday, May 30 to Tuesday, June 3

Details and pricing can be found here. Spots are limited so please register for the Study Mission and Iceland Tour soon.

Registration is now open!

Study Mission early pricing through March 2, 2025: $4650
(Registration includes single-occupancy hotel, ground transportation, meals and events. It does not include airfare though the trip is planned around the recommended Icelandair flights.)

Iceland Tour Add-On pricing: $2,250 for single occupancy, $1,800 per person for double occupancy
(Registration includes lodging, transportation, 4 breakfasts and 2 dinners per person. It does not include airport transfer, meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary, drinks with included lunches and dinners, tips for leaders, guide and driver. Also, travel insurance for the Iceland tour is mandatory.)

✈️ Recommended Icelandair flight instructions to utilize the 1 or 5-day stopover feature are here.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]

Scholarships

Thank you to our Sponsors