About: carbon price

Merkel sends first strong message for climate neutrality by 2050

Chancellor Angela Merkel has indicated for the first time that Germany may join a European alliance to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050. At a recent EU summit, Germany was unwilling to join a similar initiative by nine EU member states. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Is climate change affecting our socio-economic classes differently?

Carbon tax has featured prominently during the EU election campaign. The key issue is whether poorer households will be expected to pay a CO2 tax, when they emit less than high earners. In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, two climate scientists discuss climate change affecting the class system and consumer behaviour.

German corporations divided on carbon price

In a debate on the potential introduction of a carbon price, an increasing number of German company associations are voicing their thoughts. Some fear their competitiveness would take a hit, while others are excited about new business opportunities. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Will there be a minimum price on carbon in Germany? And how?

In Germany, calls for introducing a CO2 emission tax are getting louder. Yet, the German government continues to be divided on the matter with the French ‘gilet jaunes’ appearing to be quite the deterrent. What would a socially acceptable price of CO2 look like? EURACTIV Germany reports.

Embracing the power of cheap renewables to deliver a carbon exit

Green steel, green ammonium, green plastics, green aluminium and green shipping can be within reach in a world with renewables at 3$ct/kilowatt hour and a carbon price of $50+/ton CO2, with limited costs to the global economy, argue Auke Lont...

Energy companies issue joint call for EU carbon price floor

A group of sixteen European energy companies including France’s EDF, Germany’s E.ON, and Denmark’s Ørsted, have proposed introducing a carbon price floor at European or regional level, as a way to the speed up the transition to a low-carbon economy.

EU carbon prices expected to rise quickly and accelerate energy transition

EU carbon prices could average €35-40 per tonne over 2019-2023, accelerating the switch from coal to gas and questioning the rationale for keeping old coal and lignite power plants running beyond 2021, said a new report by Carbon Tracker released on Tuesday (21 August).

Climate action should be a condition for future EU trade deals

The European Union should support France’s proposal to add compliance with the Paris Agreement as an essential element of EU trade accords, writes Steve Herz.

Ministers highlight European divide over carbon price floor

While France is pushing for the implementation of a carbon price floor at EU level and is looking for allies in the bloc, Poland sees energy storage technologies as key to a successful European climate policy.

UN draft calls on international shipping to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

A working group of the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) released an interim strategy on 6 April, which calls on international shipping to reduce total annual greenhouse gas emissions from 2008 levels by at least 50% by 2050.

France to push for EU carbon price floor and border tariff

Paris will push for a carbon price floor at EU level, complete with a carbon tariff at Europe's external border for countries that don't sign up to the Paris Agreement, French President Emmanuel Macron said in Brussels on Thursday (22 March).

China launches largest carbon market in the world

China launched what will become the world’s largest carbon market on Tuesday (19 December), surpassing the EU’s flagship market mechanism to cap and trade emissions. The scheme is part of a host of major policies China is using to peak its GHGs by 2030.

Decarbonising Europe: Matching aspiration with action

With renewable electricity costs going through the floor, the EU should increase its 2030 targets and aim for close to zero carbon electricity by 2040. But while power decarbonisation is crucially important, it will not be sufficient to deliver a truly zero carbon economy, writes Adair Turner.

The case for a price floor in the EU ETS

The recently adopted reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is insufficient to trigger cost-efficient decarbonisation of the economy, argue Christian Flachsland and Anna Leipprand. A carbon floor price that starts at a significant level and rises over time would address the problem, they write.

Engie boss: ‘Phasing-out coal, as quickly as possible’

Isabelle Kocher, the CEO of Engie, wants to "accelerate" the energy transition. After the COP23 in Bonn, she warns that Europe is "running out of time" and supports both "very high and mandatory" targets for energy savings, and for a carbon price floor.

Carbon market reform: Much ado about nothing?

The European Parliament and several member states, including France, have excluded new coal plants from future financing under the EU’s reformed carbon market. EURACTIV France reports.

Without carbon tax, we are heading for climate doom

A high tax on carbon emissions is strictly necessary to halt climate change, according to Gaël Giraud, chief economist in the French development agency (AFD). EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement reports.

Can the invisible hand guide us towards a decarbonised energy system?

Prices for many sources of energy do not reflect their true environmental and social costs, writes Thomas Nowak who proposes abolishing fossil fuel subsidies as one of four necessary measures to drive the transition to a low-carbon economy.

France aims to set carbon price of at least €50 by 2030

France has confirmed it will introduce a floor price for carbon emissions from coal power stations, which will increase from around €20 in 2020 to €50 in 2030. EURACTIV's partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.

The game behind France’s carbon price floor

The carbon pricing measures announced by French President François Hollande will unfairly benefit EDF, the energy company's competitors have said.  EURACTIV's partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.

ETS reform to quadruple refiners’ carbon costs, industry says

The next phase of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) will nearly quadruple European refiners' carbon costs to around 23 euro cents per barrel, up from six cents now, the head of the European refiners' industry body said on Tuesday.

European carbon market slumps after COP 21

The Paris climate agreement failed to have the desired impact on the European carbon market. Prices have fallen on the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) since the agreement was signed in December. EURACTIV France reports. 

The early success of COP21

The Paris climate conference largely succeeded on its first day in global participation, low carbon innovation and carbon pricing, writes Professor Michael Grubb.

Energy utilities push carbon pricing, lobby against renewable targets at COP21

The association of power companies working under the 'Magritte Group' umbrella, called on Tuesday (8 December) for carbon pricing, rather than renewable energy targets, to be the main tool for fighting climate change.