There are multiple arguments for why the EU’S 2030 climate target aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% is not compatible with the 1.5°C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. The EU thus will need to look at how it can do more. Substantial additional action in all economic sectors and in…
The Emissions Trading System (ETS) is one of the key EU climate policies and its reform is essential for the successful implementation of the EU Green Deal and the achievement of the Union’s 2030 climate targets. Advocating for a strong revision of the EU ETS is an inherent part of civil society’s work to help…
Steelmaking is one of the most carbon-intensive industries in the European Union. The sector emits 221 megatonnes of carbon dioxide each year. To ensure the EU achieves climate neutrality well before 2050, it is necessary to drastically reduce emissions in the steel sector. The EU’s Emissions Trading System is the key instrument for incentivising emissions…
Our FAQ document on the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) explaining its objectives, how it will work in practice, which sectors are covered, what happens during the transition phase, and more. This is a downloadable PDF. The text is also available as a webpage: A brief explanation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Update 1 July: Verra published a statement in response to this report, questioning its findings and accusing it of using flawed methodologies. Our response to Verra is available here. Executive summary The Colombian government adopted a carbon tax of approximately US$5/tCO2e covering fossil fuels in 2016. Companies can avoid paying the tax by purchasing carbon…
This policy paper complements the briefing “A New Hope – recommendations for the EU Emissions Trading System review” Introduction: The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has been hampered by a historical oversupply since its inception. Since 2019, some of the excess allowances are being absorbed by the Market Stability Reserve (MSR), and a portion…
Executive summary The Emissions Trading System (ETS) is a centrepiece of the EU’s climate policy and its main tool to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Europe’s industrial and power sectors. Until today, most of the emission reductions achieved under the EU ETS were driven by the power sector due to fuel switches in the…
This report by CE Delft was commissioned by Carbon Market Watch Summary This study has calculated the additional profits that sectors and companies have made from the EU ETS between 2008 to 2019 for the fifteen most CO2-intensive sectors plus aviation in nineteen EU countries. In our study we have investigated three types of profits:…
Executive summary Since its inception, the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) has been giving free allowances to most energy-intensive industries deemed at risk of carbon leakage. “Carbon leakage” refers to a hypothetical situation where companies transfer production to countries with weaker climate policies in order to lower their costs. This policy briefing interprets the…
Introduction: Plastic production is the largest part of the chemical sector, constituting about one-third of chemicals production worldwide and about one fifth in Europe. The petrochemicals sector is the sector that uses the most energy in the world, more than the iron and steel, cement, pulp and paper, and aluminium industries, and is the third-largest…
Carbon pricing 
International transport 
Climate governance 
Fair climate action