What will the future of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) look like as the emissions cap heads towards zero? Is integrating carbon dioxide removals (CDRs) into the ETS a solution to help the EU achieve its climate goals? Or would they compromise the integrity and functioning of the system? These questions are at the forefront of the Commission’s mind as they review different options for the future of the ETS ahead of the 2026 revision.
Category: Policy recommendations
For a systematic use of default values in the CBAM
The current carbon emissions reporting in the CBAM fails to achieve its goal of replacing free allocations under the EU ETS and undermines its integrity. A systematic default value system would improve the CBAM and safeguard the EU ETS.
CBAM DRI loophole requires new free allocation reform
We took part in a targeted survey run by the European Commission’s DG TAXUD on methodologies used to calculate embedded emissions and the rules for adjusting CBAM obligations alongside free allocation under the ETS. Our proposal: free allocation should be reformed to close the ‘DRI loophole’.
Feedback on the EU Commission’s draft methodology for low-carbon hydrogen
For ‘low carbon’ hydrogen to truly make a positive contribution to Europe’s transition to climate neutrality, the safeguards put in place must be meaningful. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case in this draft delegated act.
Feedback on the inclusion of permanent CCU in the EU ETS
We welcome the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft delegated regulation published by the European Commission pursuant to Article 12(3b) of the EU ETS Directive [1] regarding the requirements for considering that greenhouse gases (GHG) have become permanently...
CEPS-Sandbag Joint Op-Ed – The EU should lead the green steel race… Or it could be left behind in the dust
A wave of low-carbon steel projects should be launched across the EU by 2030 but how commercially viable they are is still to be seen. According to Agora Industry, two critical factors underpin this uncertainty: a carbon price below EUR 150 per tonne of CO2 emissions...
Joint letter calling for separate emissions reductions and permanent CDR targets in EU 2040 climate framework
Sandbag co-signed an open letter sent to the European Commission by 114 leading academics, businesses, civil society organisations and research institutions urging the EU to set explicit and separate targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, land-based carbon...
Free Allocation Needs to Incentivise Circularity for the EU to Reach Net Zero
Open letter: Free allocation needs to incentivise circularity for the EU to reach net zero To: DG CLIMA - Mr Heiko Kunst Chair of the Expert Group on Climate Change Policy Dear Mr Kunst, We are writing to you on behalf of the European steel scrap recycling...
The Net Zero Industry Act: all industry, no net zero
The European Commission’s proposal for a Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) as part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan purports to boost the European green transition whilst decreasing dependence on third countries. But does what sounds like a win-win for industry and the...
The European Hydrogen Bank: a recipe for competitive distortion
Last Thursday, the European Commission published its Communication on the European Hydrogen Bank set to accompany the Net-Zero Industry Act, the legislative proposal for which was published on the same day. The Bank will be an instrument aimed to domestically produce...