Open safety deposit boxes

Pillaging the EU’s carbon market to fight the energy crunch is self-defeating

by Wijnand StoefsDecarbonising European industry, EU carbon market, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

Raiding the reserve that underpins the EU’s Emissions Trading System to reduce the European Union’s dependence on Russian gas is short-sighted and destructive, especially as far better solutions exist. The Market Stability Reserve (MSR) is an important element of the EU Emissions Trading System. It has proven effective in supporting the carbon price, and helped …

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Trilogue triangulation: Mapping the positions of the EU institutions on carbon market reform

by Agnese Ruggiero2050 climate strategies, Decarbonising European industry, EU carbon market, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

As the EU institutions enter into a three-way trilogue on the reform of the Emissions Trading System, we present you with this handy comparative analysis of the options on the table and Carbon Market Watch’s recommendations. Almost a year after the publication of the European Commission’s proposal for the revision of the EU’s Emissions Trading …

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Environment ministers weaken Emissions Trading System in a race to the bottom with European Parliament

by Khaled DiabAviation, Decarbonising European industry, EU carbon market, Shipping, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

Rather than correct course after the European Parliament’s shocking abrogation of responsibility, EU environment ministers have lowered the ambition of the EU ETS even further. Moreover, the Environment Council has offered heavy industry billions in generous freebies while leaving households to pay the bill. Last week, MEPs voted on a diluted Emissions Trading System, undermining …

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June newsletter editorial: Dramatic week in climate politics shows undercutting ambition is unacceptable

by Sabine FrankDecarbonising European industry, The EU Green Deal and Climate Law, Greenwashing, 2050 climate strategies, EU carbon market, AviationPosted on Comments are Disabled

Events followed by more than one member of the CMW team at a time are rare. On the occasion of the European Parliament’s vote on the reform of the EU Emissions Trading System on 8 June, several of us were glued to our screens following the parliamentary proceedings and sharing reactions in an online chat. …

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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 …

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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 …

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May newsletter editorial: Revamping carbon market can help wean EU off fossil fuels

by Sabine FrankEU carbon market, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Sulík has a surreal idea for emptying Vladimir Putin’s war chest. “We should lower energy prices… We should suspend CO2 trading, because that drives up energy prices,” he opined in a 5 May interview on the EU’s oil embargo on Russia with German public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.  Moreover, the centre-right politician …

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April newsletter editorial: Panel debate on ETS comes straight from polluter’s pocket

by Sabine FrankDecarbonising European industry, Corporate climate responsibility, 2050 climate strategies, EU carbon market, Climate financePosted on Comments are Disabled

In a democratic debate, should everyone get an equal say or should those with money be given a soapbox and loudhailer? The answer to this question is obvious, yet it appears to have eluded Politico Europe, one of the main players on the Brussels media stage. On 28 March 2022, Politico organised a virtual debate …

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Milking the EU’s carbon market cash cow for industry

by Sam Van den plasThe EU Green Deal and Climate Law, EU carbon market, Climate financePosted on Comments are Disabled

Rather than propose amendments to the EU’s Emissions Trading System that would take the heat off the climate and serve society, European parliamentarians are squabbling over the quantity of freebies to offer polluting industries. The process of revamping the EU’s Emissions Trading System is in full swing.  Members of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee have …

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EU works to beef up regulations on green claims while NGOs take to the courts to combat greenwashing

by Gilles DufrasneCorporate climate responsibility, GreenwashingPosted on Comments are Disabled

The proliferation of dubious green claims by companies has sparked renewed concern about the lack of adequate regulation to prevent greenwashing and the low compliance with existing rules. Regulators are starting to revise outdated provisions, while NGOs are suing companies over misleading advertisements. The European Commission published yesterday (30 March 2022) a new proposal to …

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