European airlines misleading customers with claims of “carbon-neutral” flights – study

by Gemma BowcockAviation, Decarbonising European industry, EU carbon market, GreenwashingPosted on Comments are Disabled

A new study commissioned by Carbon Market Watch has revealed gaping holes in the effectiveness of voluntary climate action taken by eight major European airlines. Misleading claims of “carbon neutral” flying, a dependence on poor quality carbon offsets and the low cost of a tonne of CO2 that customers can pay to offset are just …

Read more “European airlines misleading customers with claims of “carbon-neutral” flights – study”

Carbon copy: MEPs vote for Emissions Trading System reforms they rejected two weeks ago

by Gemma BowcockClimate finance, Decarbonising European industry, EU carbon market, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

After being recently voted down in the European Parliament, the reform of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) was successfully passed today. But there’s little cause for celebration: while the changes might appear favourable at first glance, a closer look reveals they are simply a minor facelift to the same set of polluter-friendly policies.  …

Read more “Carbon copy: MEPs vote for Emissions Trading System reforms they rejected two weeks ago”

New study: Slashing aviation emissions at little cost to airlines

by Gemma BowcockAviation, EU carbon marketPosted on Comments are Disabled

A new analysis shows the expansion of the scope of the EU’s Emission Trading System (EU ETS) for aviation could bring several environmental and economic benefits without significantly increasing operating costs for airlines. The major benefits of expanding the scope of the EU ETS for aviation has this month been demonstrated by a new study. …

Read more “New study: Slashing aviation emissions at little cost to airlines”

EU Parliament sends carbon market review back to the drawing board

by Gemma Bowcock2050 climate strategies, Decarbonising European industry, EU carbon market, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

In an unexpected turn of events in the European Parliament, a watered-down carbon market package was rejected by a majority of MEPs. The review of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) Directive was referred back to the Environment Committee and will now overlap with  Member States finalising their position later this month. In Strasbourg …

Read more “EU Parliament sends carbon market review back to the drawing board”

More ambitious European carbon market could slash aviation emissions by an extra 53%

by Gemma BowcockAviationPosted on Comments are Disabled

Europe’s carbon market – the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) – could deliver up to 53% more emission reductions for aviation in Europe if applied to all departing flights compared to the current plan, and 113% more reduction if extended to both incoming and outgoing flights, a new study finds.  Pricing emissions in Europe …

Read more “More ambitious European carbon market could slash aviation emissions by an extra 53%”

European Parliament’s compromise vote on EU carbon market compromises our ability to prevent climate breakdown

by Gemma Bowcock2050 climate strategies, Decarbonising European industry, EU carbon market, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

Despite some progress and a number of hardwon victories for the climate, MEPs on the European Parliament’s environment committee failed to raise the ambition of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to a level that would avoid catastrophic temperature rises. After almost a year in the legislative pipeline since it was proposed as part …

Read more “European Parliament’s compromise vote on EU carbon market compromises our ability to prevent climate breakdown”

Hollow corporate promises: How to stop false climate claims

by Gemma Bowcock2050 climate strategies, Corporate climate responsibility, Decarbonising European industryPosted on Comments are Disabled

Corporations are exaggerating their climate action, according to our recent report. But what are the next steps for those companies who truly want to reduce their impact on the climate? And how can governments stop false or misleading pledges sneaking into advertising? The Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor, a joint report from Carbon Market Watch and …

Read more “Hollow corporate promises: How to stop false climate claims”

CBAM: Exploring MEP Chahim’s draft report

by Gemma BowcockDecarbonising European industry, Global marketsPosted on Comments are Disabled

MEP Mohammed Chahim, the rapporteur of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Regulation in the Environment Committee at the European Parliament, is in charge of drafting a report that includes proposed changes to the European Commission legislative proposal. The draft report was published in December 2021 and will be used to inform and influence the …

Read more “CBAM: Exploring MEP Chahim’s draft report”

European Parliament’s proposed carbon market revamp a licence for industry to pollute

by Gemma BowcockDecarbonising European industry, EU carbon marketPosted on Comments are Disabled

The European Parliament’s draft report by MEP Peter Liese on revising the EU’s Emissions Trading System fails to strengthen the scheme’s climate targets while opening up multiple routes to hand out more free emission allowances and offer offsets, enabling heavy industries to profit from their pollution. German Christian Democrat MEP Peter Liese has released his …

Read more “European Parliament’s proposed carbon market revamp a licence for industry to pollute”