About: carbon price

New EU Emissions Trading System: what should change?

Set up in 2005, the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is the world's first international emissions trading system. Since its establishment, the concept has had plenty of detractors.

A carbon price on buildings and transport could come at a heavy cost

Plans to extend the EU's carbon market to transport and heating fuels will have the greatest impact on the poorest households, writes Piotr Arak.

ETS extension: when in doubt, create a fund

Geeky, technical work on how to create a carbon price for buildings and road transport that incentivises change without being too high is key to the extension of the emissions trading scheme, writes Brook Riley.

Is anyone able to control the carbon price?

Carbon prices on the EU emissions trading scheme are currently rising too fast, making the market extremely volatile, but it seems the European Commission has no effective stabilising tool to tackle this, writes Robert Jeszke and Sebastian Lizak.

Unlocking electrification through rebalancing levies and taxes

The EU needs to look at rebalancing taxes and levies on electricity to match falls in its carbon intensity and incentivise people to transition to more environmentally friendly energy, writes Jan Rosenow.

China launches carbon emissions trading scheme

China launched a carbon trading system designed to drive down greenhouse gas emissions on Monday (1 February), as the world's biggest polluter takes steps towards decarbonising its economy by 2060.

German cabinet agrees CO2 price of €25 from January 2021

Germany's cabinet agreed on Wednesday (20 May) on changes to the climate package launched last September, and it is now certain that from January 2021, a price of €25 per tonne of CO2 will apply to the heat and transport sectors in Germany. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Environmentalists want revision of Germany’s newly-proposed climate package

The German climate cabinet presented its long-awaited draft of Germany's first climate protection law on Friday (20 September). But environmental organisations are already calling for the revision of the proposed carbon price for the transport and construction sector. EURACTIV Germany reports.

German coalition divided over carbon pricing

Should Germany put a price on carbon emissions from transport, buildings or agriculture, which are currently not covered by the EU emissions trading scheme? The question is dividing members of the ruling coalition. EURACTIV Germany reports.

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.