Over the past two decades, the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has helped cut greenhouse gas emissions from power, industry, aviation and maritime sectors in half.

Starting this summer, the scheme will undergo another revision, but it is already the subject of an intense political and industry-led assault that is seeking to curb the EU ETS’s environmental efficacy to bolster corporate bottom lines and prolong the fossil status quo.

Despite the noise, support for and acceptance of the ETS as a driving force of both climate action and European competitiveness is actually growing among civil society, government and industry.

Our position paper outlines the key priorities for policymakers to consider in the upcoming EU Emissions Trading System revision. The ETS is far from perfect, but every revision so far it has been made into a more effective climate tool. We will highlight the top 10 ways to make it better still.

The EU’s lawmakers must stay the course. Don’t mess with the ETS.

Latest version published on 01/06/2026 shows graph on page 11 with edited and updated data.