Press Release: New report shows carbon offsets from Alberta’s tar sands jeopardize EU fuel quality rules

by Femke de JongEU carbon marketPosted on Comments are Disabled

Brussels, 17 December 2014. Today, the European Parliament adopted the proposal to implement the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD), opening doors for the use of offsets associated with Alberta’s tar sands. A report launched today shows how the oil companies’ lobby succeeded in watering down the measure, allowing their activities in Alberta’s tar sands to count towards achieving their EU decarbonisation obligations.

Press Release: New data shows China, Ukraine and Russia still benefit from EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme

by Femke de JongEU carbon marketPosted on Comments are Disabled

Yesterday, the European Commission released new data on the number and origin of carbon offsets used in 2013 by companies in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Despite new eligibility criteria that took effect in 2013 which should incentivise investments in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the majority of offsets come from projects in China, Ukraine and Russia. Only 0.04% of offsets used came from LDCs.