We’re a non-profit climate change think tank which uses data analysis to build evidence-based campaigns on climate policy
We focus on EU policies such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, carbon border adjustment mechanisms and emissions reductions in industrial sectors. We believe in Europe’s ability to lead climate action by example and use its large market and ability to stimulate technological competition as an incentive for others to follow. But we’re also aware of the risk that Europe might fail to deliver on its own pledges, which is why we want to get EU climate policy right.
Our Work
Carbon Pricing
Our accomplishments on Carbon Pricing
Industry
Our policy recommendations on EU industry
CBAM
Our work on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
Data Tools
Explore all of our data tools
Financing
Our research on EU funding
Publications
Emissions covered by the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme rebound but allowances in circulation remain as high as in 2019
This analysis is based on estimations using data available as of 4 April 2022. It will be updated as more data is made available during the coming weeks. The European Commission has released the...
EU ETS Reform – Policy Suggestions for the European Parliament
Achieving the increased EU climate targets and the goals of the Paris Agreement requires strong incentives to be set for the economy to decarbonise. A significant part of the EU’s carbon emissions...
EU ETS Revenues: Who Receives What? The Trillion Euro Question
This brief gives an analysis of the EU ETS Revenues, and aims to highlight, under various scenarios, how much is allocated to industry, Member States, and the Union’s budget respectively. The...
Why Free Allocation in the EU ETS Must Stop Urgently
Free allocation (FA) under the EU ETS has been criticised for directing large amounts of taxpayers’ money towards incumbent polluting plants, turning the polluter-pays principle on its head and not...
Urgent: CBAM needed to abolish free allocation under the EU ETS
Why was the CBAM proposed in the first place? In July 2021, the EU announced its Fit for 55 package - a sweeping set of climate and energy policy proposals which forms the EU’s approach to combat...
Feedback on the EU ETS reform
Sandbag welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the update of the EU ETS under the FF55 package. Our analyses [1] show that the proposed changes are not enough to guarantee that emissions...
TESTIMONIALS
Sandbag is recognised as a top global climate think-tank

Mundo Matogné. Rue d’Edimbourg 26, Ixelles 1050 Belgium. Sandbag is a not-for-profit (ASBL) organisation registered in Belgium under the number 0707.935.890. EU transparancy register no. 277895137794-73. VAT: BE0707935890