Jonathan Gardiner

Jonathan Gardiner

MSc (Carbon Management)
MA Hons (Economics)

Researcher

Team
Topics

Jonathan Gardiner works as a Researcher at Ecologic Institute. His main research interests include climate policy and the role of carbon pricing, carbon removals and other economic instruments in achieving climate neutrality. Jonathan Gardiner is a native speaker of English and has good knowledge of German, Spanish, and French.

In his work at the Ecologic Institute, Jonathan Gardiner conducts research on the effectiveness of policies and policy mixes for achieving climate neutrality. He is currently involved in several EU-funded projects on carbon pricing, including the Further Development of Emissions Trading after 2030, which examines the potential extension of emissions trading to agriculture and the integration of carbon removals. He is also working on a project exploring potential carbon pricing designs to cover oil extraction. He also contributes to the European Climate Neutrality Observatory, where he assesses the state of carbon dioxide removals across the EU. In addition, he is developing a Strategy for the Financing of Permanent Carbon Removals at the EU level.

Previously, Jonathan Gardiner researched and managed "Transformative Policies for a Climate-Neutral European Union (4I-TRACTION)", where he researched fossil fuel phase-out policies and carried out a quantitative analysis of EU public procurement. He also contributed to both the ESABCC's 2025 report on scaling up carbon removals and the World Bank State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2023 report. Jonathan Gardiner is also engaged in capacity building activities on emissions trading, covering the design and implementation of emissions trading systems in emerging economies and developing countries. In August 2022, Jonathan organized and assisted with moderation at the ICAP Summer School on Emissions Trading in Florence (Italy).

Prior to joining Ecologic Institute, Jonathan Gardiner completed a master's degree in Carbon Management at the University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom). In addition, he holds an undergraduate degree in Economics. Jonathan Gardiner also spent a year studying at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona (Spain) as part of the Erasmus Programme. During his time in Spain, he completed a project management internship at Welocalize.

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Selected projects by Jonathan Gardiner
ProjectStrategy for the Financing of Permanent Carbon Removals
 

Photo: Canva.com

Achieving the EU's goal of climate neutrality by 2050, and net-negative emissions thereafter, will require large-scale deployment of carbon removals with permanent storage. However, many of these prospective technologies, such as Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage ... Read more

Strategy for the Financing of Permanent Carbon Removals

Duration
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Funding
ProjectFurther Development of Emissions Trading after 2030
 

© jamesteohart, Shutterstock

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) will need to undergo significant changes on the path towards climate neutrality by 2050 and net-negative emissions thereafter. As the current system approaches its so-called 'endgame,' with a shrinking cap and the possibility of new... Read more

Further Development of Emissions Trading after 2030

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectState and Trends of Carbon Pricing Report 2023
 

https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/state-and-trends-carbon-pricing-2023

Carbon pricing is gaining traction around the world, as more and more jurisdictions implement emissions trading systems or tax carbon emissions to achieve their climate objectives. The annual "State and Trends of Carbon Pricing" is the flagship report of the World Bank... Read more

State and Trends of Carbon Pricing Report 2023

Duration
Funding
ProjectHorizon 2020Transformative Policies for a Climate-neutral European Union (4i-TRACTION)
 

© Ecologic Institute

To achieve climate neutrality by 2050, EU policy will have to be reoriented – from incremental towards structural change. As expressed in the European Green Deal, the challenge is to initiate the necessary transformation to climate neutrality in the coming years, while... Read more

Transformative Policies for a Climate-neutral European Union (4i-TRACTION)

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectETS Training and Capacity Building Activities under the Auspices of ICAP
 

Participants in an ICAP master's course on emissions trading in Lisbon in 2017

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ICAP

Under this contract, the Ecologic Institute continues its programme of ETS training and capacity building activities implemented under the auspices of the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), supported by the European Commission. In an Ecologic-led consortium... Read more

ETS Training and Capacity Building Activities under the Auspices of ICAP

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectPlatform for Policy Dialogue and Cooperation between EU and China on Emission Trading
 
For several years, the EU and China have cooperated on the design and implementation of carbon markets. Since 2018, the Ecologic Institute has become part of an international consortium led by ICF to deliver capacity building, training and joint research activities in... Read more

Platform for Policy Dialogue and Cooperation between EU and China on Emission Trading

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectCapacity Building on Emissions Trading to Support Bilateral Cooperation 2023-2025
 

Foto von Jan van der Wolf

The project aims to communicate the benefits and challenges of emissions trading and provides information to interested partner countries. It is the follow-up project to "Capacity Building Emissions Trading to Support Bilateral Cooperation 2021-2022". A consortium... Read more

Capacity Building on Emissions Trading to Support Bilateral Cooperation 2023-2025

Duration
-
Funding
Selected publications by Jonathan Gardiner
PublicationConference PaperPerspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal Credits
 
Cover of the workshop pre-read "Perspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal" authored by Hugh McDonald1, Jonathan Gardiner, John Tarpey, Benjamin Görlach (Ecologic Institute).

© Ecologic Institute, 2025

This document serves as an informational pre-read for the workshop Perspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal Credits that took place on 21 May 2025 in Brussels, hosted by DG CLIMA. The information in this pre-read synthesises the... Read more

McDonald, H., Gardiner, J., Tarpey, J., Görlach, B. (2025, May 14). Workshop pre-read: Perspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal. Ecologic Institute.

PublicationReport2024 Report: State of EU progress to climate neutrality
 
The image is a cover page for a report titled "State of EU progress to climate neutrality." The cover features the following elements: Title: The title "State of EU progress to climate neutrality" is prominently displayed in bold white text on a deep purple background. Subtitle: Below the title, the subtitle reads, "An indicator-based assessment across 13 building blocks for a climate neutral future." Date: The date "July 2024" is shown below the subtitle.

©European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO) 2024

The EU is making promising progress on the road to climate neutrality but needs to keep up the pace to achieve the goal. This is the result of the second progress report by the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO), which has analysed developments in over 100... Read more

Velten, Eike Karola et al. 2024: Flagship Report: State of EU progress to climate neutrality. An indicator-based assessment across 13 building blocks for a climate neutral future. European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO).

PublicationReportPublic Procurement for Climate Neutrality – a transformative policy instrument?
 
Cover of the 4i-TRACTION report "Public Procurement for Climate Neutrality: a transformative policy instrument?"

© Ecologic Institute

This report investigates how public procurement can be used as a strategic policy instrument to accelerate the transformation to climate neutrality. Public procurement represents around 14% of the EU’s GDP and at least 11% of its emissions. Hence, these activities... Read more

Mähönen, Maiju., Martini, Leon., Gardiner, Jonathan., Lehtilä, Sara., & Görlach, Benjamin (2023): Public Procurement for Climate Neutrality: a transformative policy instrument? D4.2: 4i-TRACTION case study report. University of Eastern Finland & Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationReportState and Trends of Carbon Pricing Report 2023
 

https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/state-and-trends-carbon-pricing-2023

Carbon pricing is gaining traction around the world, as more and more jurisdictions implement emissions trading systems or tax carbon emissions to achieve their climate objectives. The annual "State and Trends of Carbon Pricing" is the flagship report of the World Bank... Read more

World Bank. 2023. State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2023. © http://hdl.handle.net/10986/39796

PublicationReportG7 Climate Crossroads: State of Play
 
Cover of the Publication "G7 Climate Crossroads: State of Play"

© WWF

This report takes stock of emission trajectories, climate policies and complementary policies in G7 countries. It helps to identify gaps in the existing policy landscape of global decarbonisation efforts and proposes potential improvements. Based on these insights, we... Read more

Gardiner, Jonathan & Jakob, Michael: G7 Climate Crossroads: State of Play. Ecologic Institute, Berlin (2022).

PublicationPolicy BriefWhat Can the EU Learn from Non-EU Countries on its Path to Climate Neutrality?
 
first page of the policy brief "What can the EU learn from non-EU countries on its path to climate neutrality?" with the main findings and recommendations

© 4i-TRACTION project

This policy brief summarizes the results of 17 case studies of non-EU countries. It presents the main lessons and takeaways for the EU along the four challenges that define the 4i-TRACTION project: facilitating integration across sectors, shifting investments, rolling... Read more

4i-TRACTION (2022): What can the EU learn from non-EU countries on its path to climate neutrality? 4i-TRACTION Policy Brief. Climate Analytics, Berlin.

Selected events by Jonathan Gardiner
EventDigital EventPerspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal Credits
 

© Pexels from Pixabay

On 21 May 2025, Ecologic Institute, in collaboration with the European Commission's DG CLIMA, hosted a half-day workshop on the design of an EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removal.Moderated by Hugh McDonald, the event brought together a range of experts... Read more

Digital Event:Perspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal Credits

Date
Location
online and Brussels, Belgium
EventConferenceConference for Alumni of the ICAP Summer Schools and Training Courses
 

(c) Ecologic Institute

The International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) held its first Alumni Conference in Berlin, Germany, from 22 to 24 March 2023. The conference brought together alumni from more than 20 ICAP Summer Schools and Training Courses on Emissions Trading, which have been... Read more

Conference:Conference for Alumni of the ICAP Summer Schools and Training Courses

Date
-
Location
Berlin, Germany
EventSummer SchoolICAP Summer School on Emissions Trading for Emerging Economies and Developing Countries
 

© Ecologic Institute

After a three-year hiatus, the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) resumed in-person trainings with the 2022 edition of its flagship training activity, the two-week ICAP Summer School on Emissions trading. The training took place in Florence (Italy) from 22... Read more

Summer School:ICAP Summer School on Emissions Trading for Emerging Economies and Developing Countries

Date
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Location
Florence, Italy
EventDigital Event Deep-dive into MRVA: Monitoring, Reporting, Verification and Accreditation of Verifiers in an Emissions Trading System
 

By Anne Nygård 1|unsplash.com

 

From 13 to 15 December (1 – 4pm CET), the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) convened a three-day workshop on monitoring, reporting, verification of emissions and the accreditation of verifiers (MRVA) in emissions trading systems (ETS). Participation in the... Read more

Digital Event: Deep-dive into MRVA: Monitoring, Reporting, Verification and Accreditation of Verifiers in an Emissions Trading System

Date
-
Location
online
EventDigital EventICAP Online Seminar on Emissions Trading: Latin America and the Caribbean
 
social media card of the event with title, date und links to further information and application form

© Ecologic Institute, ICAP

Emissions trading is a market-based instrument for climate change mitigation. From the EU to Mexico and from China to California, more and more jurisdictions around the world use emissions trading as a tool to achieve their climate goals. As of 2022, around 17% of world... Read more

Digital Event:ICAP Online Seminar on Emissions Trading: Latin America and the Caribbean

Date
-
Location
online

Recent content by Jonathan Gardiner

Publication:Report
 
Cover page of the report “International Oil Extraction Levy – Design recommendations and impact analysis,” published by Ecologic Institute and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Authors: Prof. Dr. Luan Santos, Dr. Michael Jakob, Jonathan Gardiner, Flora Dicke, and Benjamin Görlach. Publication date: 27 June 2025.
This report explores the design and implications of an international oil extraction levy as a mechanism to mobilize new sources of climate finance. The assessed levy places a price on the embedded CO₂ in extracted crude oil, increasing production costs and likely raising oil prices for final consumers. By internalising part of the climate costs of fossil fuels, the mechanism aligns with the polluter pays principle.

International Oil Extraction Levy

Design recommendations and impact analysis

Year

Read more
Event:Digital Event
 
The Directorate-General for Climate Action of the European Commission hosted a half-day workshop on the design of an EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removal. The workshop served as a platform to share ongoing research and to gather insights from funders, buyers, and policy experts about the motivations behind carbon removal investments and the prerequisites for a successful EU initiative.

Perspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal Credits


online and Brussels, Belgium

Read more
Publication:Report
 
The image shows a collage with two pictures: on the left, an aerial view of green, forested areas and wetlands, indicating nature-based carbon removal, and on the right, an industrial scene with large tanks and pipes, symbolizing technological carbon capture methods. The text below reads: 'Scaling up carbon dioxide removals. Recommendations for navigating opportunities and risks in the EU.' The image is from the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change.
This report explores options for scaling up carbon dioxide removals in the EU, considering respective costs, risks and opportunities. This assessment, covering both carbon sinks in the land sector and novel solutions, involves analyses of the status and potential of carbon dioxide removals in the EU, key policy needs and gaps, as well as policy recommendations for a robust EU governance of carbon dioxide removals.

Scaling up Carbon Dioxide Removals

Recommendations for navigating opportunities and risks in the EU

Year

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Event:Conference
 
On 28 January 2025, the Directorate-General for Climate Action of the European Commission is hosting a 1-day event on public funding for permanent carbon removal. The event will focus on exploring and enhancing the financing landscape for climate action, with a specific emphasis on instruments supporting permanent carbon removal.

Public Funding for Permanent Carbon Removal in the EU


Brussels, Belgium

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Project
 
To generate new sources of climate finance, this project assesses the design and implications of an international oil extraction levy. Unlike downstream carbon pricing policies, the levy would be applied at the point of oil extraction and based on the embedded carbon in crude oil. By internalising part of the climate costs of fossil fuels, the mechanism aligns with the polluter pays principle.

International Oil Extraction Levy

Design recommendations and impact analysis

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Read more
Project
 
This project supports the German Environment Agency (UBA) in developing strategic options for the structural evolution of the EU ETS post-2030. Its results will feed into the European Commission's 2026 review of the ETS and inform Germany's position in upcoming negotiations on ETS reform.

Further Development of Emissions Trading after 2030

An Economic Perspective

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Project
 
This project will support the European Commission's DG CLIMA to develop policies related to the financing of permanent carbon removal technologies, with an emphasis on mechanisms that can accelerate their upscaling. These include tools like public procurement, public-private partnerships, and EU funding instruments.

Strategy for the Financing of Permanent Carbon Removals

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Publication:Podcast
 
With the recent EU elections behind us, the challenge arises of how to continue the momentum towards climate neutrality while navigating the evolving political landscape. The focus now shifts to implementing the policy framework left behind by the last Commission, while also developing new, ambitious climate policies. In this episode of "Climate ON AIR," hosts Aaron Best and Bradlie Martz-Sigala discuss the way forward for EU climate policy with Bettina Kampman (CE Delft) and Benjamin Görlach (Ecologic Institute).

What Next? Advancing Towards Climate Neutrality in a Challenging Political Environment

Sixth episode of the podcast "CLIMATE ON AIR – Discussing the future of EU climate policy"

Year

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