About: carbon price

OECD: EU farming subsidies not focused enough on green goals, innovation

While EU agricultural spending for climate action is high, this has not brought emission reductions, says a new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The Green Brief: No done deal on EU carbon market reform

Lawmakers in the European Parliament’s environment committee voted on a major overhaul of the EU’s carbon market last week, but it’s a long and possibly bumpy road to EU legislators shaking hands on the final deal.

Lead EU lawmaker proposes carbon market rules to respond to price spikes

The European Parliament's lead lawmaker on reforms to the EU carbon market on Wednesday proposed rules to make it easier for policymakers to intervene in the scheme if prices rise too fast.

EU’s proposed social climate fund comes under fire from all sides

At a meeting in Brussels on Monday (20 December), EU environment ministers criticised the European Commission’s proposal for a social climate fund that would support vulnerable households through the energy transition. Their motives, however, diverged widely.

Carbon capture: Europe’s trump card for waste treatment?

Europe has a waste problem. In 2018, over two million tonnes of rubbish was treated in the EU, with just under half of this going to landfills, where it releases climate-damaging methane emissions.

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.