From 7 to 11 September, Ecologic Institute co-organised the 2026 ICAP Summer School in Bangkok (Thailand). The event brought together 35 government officials from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam for a five-day intensive course on designing and implementing emissions trading systems (ETS).

Michael Mehling (Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ecologic Institute) and Marissa Santikarn (EDF) served as the main presenters and facilitators, guiding participants through the programme. They were joined by additional experts from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), the World Bank Group, European Commission, as well as experts implementing ETS in their jurisdictions to address climate change. Aaron Best and Jonathan Gardiner of Ecologic Institute also contributed their ETS expertise through presentations and facilitation of specific sessions.  

Over the five days, participants explored a wide range of ETS design topics, including cap setting, system scope, allowance allocation, governance, market stability mechanisms, as well as monitoring reporting and verification (MRV). Via interactive group exercises, participants carried out scenario-based design of their own ETS, culminating in each team‘s final presentation of their design on the final day of the event.

An additional highlight of the week was the official launch of the ETS Lab, a new simulation game co-developed by ICAP and the World Bank Group. The game allows players to take on the role of a regulated entity operating under a cap-and-trade ETS. Players can trade allowances, reacting in real-time to market dynamics and regulatory actions as the game unfolds.

Participants also shared their own experiences and the state of play regarding ETS implementation in their own countries, helping to enrich the curriculum with real-world examples across South and Southeast Asia.