About: Carbon Leakage

Why we need more than just the EU carbon market to tackle industrial pollution

Latest data shows that the market-based solution alone is not enough to cut carbon pollution from heavy industry in line with the Paris Agreement goals. A new industrial policy mix is needed to ensure Europe is on a pathway to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, writes Agnese Ruggiero.

EU bets on innovation to secure energy transition

Breakthrough climate-change-busting technologies are set to benefit from €10 billion in EU funding over the next decade, as the European Commission confirmed its punt on a major new innovation fund.

EU’s energy intensive industries paid to pollute, says NGO

Instead of pursuing real decarbonisation plans, energy-intensive industry in the EU has managed to turn pollution into profit, Climate Action Network Europe said in a study published 9 April.

‘Invisible’ cement polluters urged to double climate efforts

European producers were singled out among the worst performers in a new environmental ranking of the world’s largest publicly-listed cement companies, published on Monday (9 April).

A fair EU carbon market: but for whom?

Amid calls from heavy industry to get more free pollution permits in the name of a ‘fair’ EU carbon market, Europe’s workers, taxpayers, and the climate must not be forgotten in the system’s design reform, writes Femke de Jong.

The price is right? Crunch time for EU carbon market reform

Lawmakers in the European Parliament are voting on Wednesday (15 February) to give a new lease of life to the EU’s emissions trading scheme, which puts a price on global warming emissions. But will they get the price right? Euractiv looks at the expectations from the reform.

Parliament must defend effective carbon price for material sectors

A coming vote in the European Parliament will help decide whether the EU Emissions Trading Scheme will drive necessary low-carbon investment in Europe’s industry over the next decade, write Karsten Neuhoff and Oliver Sartor.

Investors fear next financial crisis will be climate-related

A rushed transition to clean energy triggered by extreme weather events linked to global warming “will be very expensive” to swallow for the economy, investors warned policymakers at an event in Bratislava last week.

MEPs push for 2025 carbon market review to boost climate action

EXCLUSIVE/ The EU’s Emissions Trading System – currently being reviewed – could be revised again in 2025 to bring it in line with stronger international climate targets called for by the Paris Agreement on global warming, under proposals being scrutinised by leading MEPs today.

EU emissions trading scheme needs urgent reform

The EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) puts thousands of jobs at serious risk in the steel, chemical, fertiliser and refining sectors, writes Marcin Bodio.

The EU’s climate change challenge

Failure to address climate change effectively will lead to adverse impacts on all countries, but if EU ambition is matched globally, we will maintain economic growth and job creation while meeting the 2°C objective, writes Seán Kelly.

ETS reform: EU tightens screw on ‘carbon leakage’ handouts for polluting industries

Energy intensive industries will continue to receive free carbon emissions allowances, as compensation for the EU’s stricter climate rules, under planned reforms to the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), but fewer will be granted.

German industry issues stark warning ahead of EU climate summit

As EU heads of state prepare to thrash out an agreement on the bloc's 2030 energy and climate change goals at a summit opening in Brussels tomorrow (23 October), energy-intensive industries in Germany have reiterated warnings that a European "solo effort" would come with billions in losses. EURACTIV Germany reports.

EU agrees to €5bn carbon permit giveaway

The European Parliament's environment committee on Wednesday (24 September) narrowly upheld plans to give billions of euros worth of carbon allowances to heavy industries for free, in order to help them compete in global markets.

Lawmakers to vote on EU’s €5bn carbon permit giveaway

European lawmakers will vote next week on whether to force the European Commission to rethink giving billions of euros worth of carbon allowances away for free to heavy industries, after a senior Green member lodged an objection.

EU polluters to land €5bn windfall under ‘carbon leakage’ proposal

Heavily-polluting industries are in line for a €5bn handout from Europe’s taxpayers because of the way the EU is measuring their exposure to unregulated competitors outside the bloc, according to an unpublished report prepared for the European commission.

Heavy industries renew calls for ‘carbon leakage’ protection

Raising the EU's emission targets for 2030 would threaten industrial competitiveness if they are not accompanied by supporting measures, according to the chemical industry and other energy-intensive sectors, which stepped up their campaign for protective measures in Brussels on Tuesday (9 September).

EU tables free carbon permit proposal for heavy industries

Most of Europe's heavy industries should keep receiving free carbon permits to help them compete in global markets, the European Commission said in new proposals tabled on Monday (5 May).

Romania to exempt heavy industry from green energy costs

Romania plans to exempt large industrial energy users from paying up to 85% of their renewable energy costs for 10 years, the economy ministry said on Thursday (17 April), hoping to avoid the threat of job cuts in an election year.

Climate policy agreement can secure Europe’s energy future

Uncertain energy policy is undermining investor confidence. That means that the sooner the EU agrees clear policies, the sooner investors can start planning for complex investments which can last for decades, writes Stephanie Pfeifer.

The ‘greening’ of industrial policy

While cheap energy prices in industrialised countries can be seen as a short-term reprieve for industries under competitive pressure from low-cost countries, they have negative consequences in the long run, writes Karl Aiginger. He argues that a new industrial policy should support Europe's competitive advantage in clean technology.

EU ‘carbon leakage’ list is outdated, says report

The European Commission is using an "outdated" list to grant free carbon emissions allowances to industries which say they face the risk of relocation abroad - or ‘carbon leakage’ - due to the bloc’s climate policies, a new study says.

Negotiate a world carbon price signal, now

Every country in the world should each make a commitment to introduce a carbon price aligned with a scientifically-validated international standard, say Stéphane Dion and Éloi Laurent.