Back-load of 900 million allowances proposed

The European Commission proposed on 12 November the “back-loading” of 900 million carbon allowances. These are allowances originally intended to be used in 2013–2015 that instead will be released to the market in 2019–2020. The final decision must be taken as an amendment to the EU emissions trading system (ETS) auctioning regulation by member state representatives on the Climate Change Committee.

Back-loading is believed to be a quick fix to restore the failing ETS market, where the oversupply of credits has been a major problem. The wind power trade association and the UK government have said that the measure is not enough and advocates that more allowances should be back-loaded or removed permanently from the auctioning period of 2013–2020.

Source: ENDS Europe Daily, 13 November 2012

In this issue

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Editorial: Difficult is not a strong enough reason to passively accept

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Is air quality in Europe getting any better?

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Climate change evident in Europe

Further impacts of climate change in Europe are expected in the future, potentially causing high damage costs.

Great potential for changing behaviour

With a policy package that motivates citizens to take up a more healthy diet, replace their fossil fuel cars with electric cars and decrease room temperature, emissions in the EU could be reduced by about a quarter of the projections for the non-ETS sector by 2020.

EU greenhouse gases fell by 2.5 per cent in 2011

A mild winter in 2011 and high prices for oil and gas have, despite an increase in the use of coal and lignite, put European Union greenhouse gas emissions back on a downward track.

The Climate Bonus

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Air pollution burden still too high, despite improvements

To adequately protect health and the environment, air pollutant emissions need to be further reduced, according to a new study by the European Environment Agency.

Cleaner fuels will dominate in 2020

The preferred emission control options for ships trading in emission control areas (ECAs) after 2015 will be low-sulphur distillate fuel oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to a study by DNV.

Increased Arctic shipping threatens the environment

Unless action is taken, the increase in shipping and other human activities in the sensitive Arctic ecosystem is likely to cause irreversible damage.

Main menu

Back-load of 900 million allowances proposed

In this issue

The costs of climate change

Editorial: Difficult is not a strong enough reason to passively accept

Tighter standards for PM proposed in the US

Is air quality in Europe getting any better?

Climate change evident in Europe

Great potential for changing behaviour

EU greenhouse gases fell by 2.5 per cent in 2011

The Climate Bonus

Air pollution burden still too high, despite improvements

Cleaner fuels will dominate in 2020

Increased Arctic shipping threatens the environment

Publications

Phasing out coal in Europe by 2025

A 1.5°C target is needed to save the Mediterranean Sea region

Ecological effects of ocean acidification

What will it take to phase out greenhouse gas emissions from road traffic in the Nordic-Baltic region by 2030–2035?

A vision for zero carbon emissions in the Nordic-Baltic region by about 2030

Cost-benefit analysis of NOx control for ships in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea

Clearing the air

Future Nordic Diets

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

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