Blog posts
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 bulk of its data on reported emissions from EU ETS sectors for the year...
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 the effects of climate change. This package is the EU’s toolkit for...
New study shows limited trade impacts of European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
The impact of the likely Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on European importers will be minor, according to a new report by Sandbag and E3G. The CBAM only covers 3.2 percent of goods imported into Europe, but 47 percent of the free emission allowances...
ETS reform: under the hype, a sense of déjà-vu
On 14 July a long-expected reform proposal of Europe’s carbon market was published by the European Commission. Far from addressing the market’s main issues, it barely adds a few patches and increases the risk of exceeding the cap. Cap: LRF, rebasing, maritime...
A Storm in a Teacup: preliminary findings on the CBAM proposal
[Update: check out our latest analysis of the Fit For 55's CBAM proposal] Last month, a draft regulation proposal for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was leaked by the European Commission. Sandbag analysed its scope and impacts on the EU's foreign trade. ...
EU ETS emissions plummet due to pandemic as EUA surplus skyrockets
This analysis is based on estimations using data available as of 1 April 2021. It will be updated as more data is made available during the coming weeks. The European Commission has released the bulk of its data on reported emissions from EU ETS sectors for the year...
European Parliament clings to false solutions in Hydrogen Strategy vote
Committee MEPs are set to approve a report laden with risks to the EU's renewable energy transition on Monday 22 March. They want to see so-called "low-carbon hydrogen" - which is produced with climate-destroying fossil fuels - eligible for public funding and policy...
European Parliament approves CBAM report but fails to take firm stance on Free Allocation
The European Parliament has voted to approve an Own Initiative report on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). However, parliamentarians have missed an opportunity in removing the call for the phase-out of free allocation from the final report. Despite the...