Emissions trading

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

Climate target 2040: Will negative emissions be integrated into the ETS?
With the Fit for 55 package, the EU wants to achieve its climate target for the year 2030. Even though the package will soon be fully enshrined in law, no one wants to sit back and relax. Because the next debate has already begun – about the climate target for 2040 and how it is to be achieved. continue reading →
ETS reform adopted, but without French Greens
The European Parliament on Tuesday adopted by a large majority the trilogue agreements on the core elements of the Fit for 55 package. MEPs voted on:‘Should’ becomes ‘shall’A major change to emissions trading is the use of the money that member states collect from the sale of emissions allowances. Previously, member states were only called […] continue reading →
Fit for 55: Effort Sharing and LULUCF formally adopted
On Tuesday, EU ministers adopted the trilogue results on three key legislative proposals of the Fit for 55 package. The Parliament had already approved the revisions of LULUCF, Effort Sharing, and Market Stability Reserve two weeks ago. Thus, all three dossiers can appear in the EU Official Journal, becoming applicable law.With the new land use […] continue reading →
Carbon farming: regenerative agriculture pays off according to study
Brussels is debating the pros and cons of carbon farming to achieve climate and environmental targets. Financing by means of certificate trading is particularly controversial. Meanwhile, a new study shows that regenerative agriculture is worthwhile. Even without certificates. continue reading →
Fit for 55: Parliament adopts trilogue results
On Tuesday, the EU Parliament approved the trilogue results of three legislative proposals of the Fit for 55 package. The final vote in the Council is now all that is needed for the legislative proposals on:land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF),distribution of emission reduction targets among the individual member states, so-called effort sharingand the […] continue reading →
ETS: Carbon price exceeds 100 euros per metric ton for the first time
The European carbon price exceeded the threshold of 100 euros per metric ton for the first time on Tuesday. The new record high – for the right to emit one ton of carbon within the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) – was 100.70 euros at midday on Tuesday. It is considered a historic and, for […] continue reading →
EU ambassadors confirm ETS trilogue outcome
A key part of the Fit for 55 package has cleared the next hurdle on its way to becoming law. On Wednesday, the EU ambassadors in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States (Coreper) approved the reform of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) by a clear majority. The trilogue result from December […] continue reading →
China’s Emissions Trading System: a problem for the CBAM
The Chinese Emissions Trading System still has numerous shortcomings and is not an effective climate protection instrument. Beijing wants to tighten it up – but it remains questionable just how much. This has trade policy consequences for Europe, especially after the introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. continue reading →
Florian Rothenberg – emissions trading expert
During the phone call, Florian Rothenberg is wrapped in a wool blanket. The energy crisis does not only concern him in his profession – he is an emissions trading analyst at the information service Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS) in Karlsruhe. The high energy prices are also an issue for him in his private life: […] continue reading →
Emma Wiesner – a tech nerd in parliament
At just before two on the night of December 17 to 18, 2022, sparkling wine was served in coffee cups: During the trilogue negotiations, Parliament, the Council and the Commission had agreed on the new rules for the European Emissions Trading System (ETS). Emma Wiesner from the liberal Renew Group helped negotiate on behalf of […] continue reading →
Study: ETS is vulnerable to money laundering
According to a new study by the German Environmental Protection Agency, the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) is particularly vulnerable to money laundering. The reasons for this are the lack of transparency regulations for market participants and the large proportion of over-the-counter (OTC) trading in the ETS.Due to the rising CO2 prices, the attractiveness of […] continue reading →
Emissions trading for buildings and transport is coming
At just before 2 a.m. on Sunday, the deal in the jumbo trilogue on the reform of emissions trading was reached: The ambition level will rise, the carbon price for buildings and road transport will be introduced, and the free emissions allowances for the industry will end in 2034. This means that the essential part of the Fit for 55 package is ready. continue reading →
Jumbo trilogue: the three sticking points of the EU climate package 
European climate policy is in for some decisive days: This weekend, the most important parts of the EU’s Fit-for-55 climate package are expected to be finalized in the trilogue. The negotiations will focus primarily on European emissions trading. Associated with this are talks on the Social Climate Fund and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – as these are big topics in themselves, some call it the jumbo trilogue.  continue reading →
REPowerEU: trilogue agreement on funding
MEPs, the Council and the Commission reached an agreement on REPowerEU funding in the early hours of yesterday morning. The agreement makes energy projects eligible for funding from the EU’s €800 billion recovery fund, which was established two years ago in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.The agreement means member states can apply for funds […] continue reading →
ETS in aviation: CO2 fee only in the EU for the time being
Tuesday night, negotiators from the EU Commission, Parliament and Council closed another chapter of the Fit for 55 package. The trilogue agreement on the inclusion of air traffic in the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) stipulates that from 2026, initially only intra-European flights will be charged a CO2 fee. From 2028, flights with destinations outside […] continue reading →
ETS for shipping: saving around 120 million tons of CO2
120 million tons of CO2 are supposed to be saved by including maritime shipping in the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) by 2030, predicts Peter Liese, EU Parliament rapporteur and environmental policy spokesman for the EPP. In the trilogue on Wednesday night, negotiators from the EU Parliament, Commission and Council agreed that emissions from ocean and inland waterway […] continue reading →
WWF: Nearly half of ETS revenues do not go to climate protection
Of the €88.5 billion collected by EU member states from the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) between 2013 and 2021, around €51 billion went to climate protection measures (57.8 percent). According to official figures, nearly €64 billion (72 percent) were reinvested in climate action, but a WWF study published Tuesday casts doubt on those figures.It […] continue reading →
Debate on carbon removal picks up speed
It's a world premiere: Today, the European Commission will present a legislative proposal to establish a certification system for carbon removal. The procedure is sharply criticized by opponents. continue reading →