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Welcome to Sandbag’s newsletter! In this edition we unpack five fresh publications —from our policy brief on recycled-steel targets for cars to new position papers on CBAM’s expansion and industrial-heat electrification, plus a joint NGO statement on car-scrap targets.
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Our latest updates
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Sandbag and partners urge the EU to set binding recycled-steel targets for vehicles (30 % by 2030, rising to 40 % by 2035) to significantly reduce embedded emissions and boost Europe’s circular economy.
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Our position paper explains why extending CBAM horizontally (to more sectors) and vertically (to key precursors and transport) is essential to reduce risk of circumvention and phase-out free allocation for heavy polluting industries in Europe.
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Sandbag welcomes the EU’s planned €1 billion auction to electrify industrial heat, but warns that the auction’s design must avoid driving up fossil-power demand through “induced” grid emissions.
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Sandbag’s new technical brief finds that carbon-capture storage and utilisation is expected to deliver only marginal, high-cost emissions reductions for aluminium production. Refineries can reach near-zero emissions by electrifying, while next-gen inert-anode cells are expected to reduce smelter emissions—cheaper than CCS/U.
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Towards a Minimum Recycled-Steel Content in Passenger Cars: Setting an Initial Target
Can targets for increased scrap use in car manufacturing improve circularity without compromising safety standards or increase fuel consumption? Our new policy brief recommends minimum scrap-content targets, helping reduce CO₂ from car manufacturing and jump-starting Europe’s cleaner scrap market.
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You can read all of our publications on our website here.
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Report: Getting Electrification Right
A deep-dive into when extra electricity demand really lowers emissions – and when it doesn’t.
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ETS Simulator with Carbon Removal Option
An interactive model exploring what happens if carbon removals are fully integrated into the post-2030 EU ETS.
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Stay tuned for interesting work on CBAM coming out soon!
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Policy Radar
Major decisions we’re tracking
ESABCC calls on the EU to maintain its 2040 climate target (2 June) – Europe’s climate-science board recommends a 90–95% emissions reduction target for 2040, to be achieved through domestic action.
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Downstream‐CBAM consultation opens (30 June) – Brussels will launch a public consultation on extending CBAM to finished steel and aluminium products, gathering evidence for the legislative proposal due in 2026.
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CBAM export-leakage communication (due 30 June) – the Commission will set out how it plans to stop carbon leakage on EU exports once free allowances are gone.
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2040 climate-target proposal (2 July) – The Commission is set to unveil a 90 % domestic-cut goal, but may add on overseas-offset “flexibilities” — an approach Sandbag warns could endanger the 2040 target.
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EU ETS review consultation (closes 8 July) – Brussels is gathering evidence on post-2030 reforms, from adding carbon removals and waste incineration to tightening anti-leakage measures.
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Sandbag in Action: Engaging on CBAM, EU ETS, and Industrial Decarbonisation
Over the past months, Sandbag has participated in several high-level conferences and roundtables to advocate for ambitious reforms to industrial climate policy—including a stronger CBAM, the phase-out of free allowances, and measures to close loopholes and strengthen the EU ETS.
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Clean Industrial Deal conference (Brussels, 21st February)
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At a high level conference we set out why free allowances should be phased out
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quickly and a comprehensive CBAM put in place to give industry a clear, fair carbon
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High-level CBAM conference (Paris, 12th February)
Hosted by France’s Treasury (DG Trésor), the event brought together European Commission experts, think-tank analysts (including Sandbag) and industry leaders to discuss how covering indirect emissions electricity and closing the “scrap loophole” would strengthen the CBAM’s climate impact and curb circumvention.
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European Parliament panel (Brussels, 11th February)
Sandbag outlined fixes for the aluminium-scrap loophole in CBAM, urging MEPs to count scrap emissions and introduce EU-wide default values to keep the mechanism climate-proof.
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ERCST EU ETS Roundtable (Brussels, 6th February)
Sandbag joined industry, Commission and NGO experts to present why phasing out free allowances and resisting carbon-removal offsets are essential for a stronger, fair-price EU ETS.
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Sandbag in the News
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Open letter co-signed opposing greenwashing of coal-based steel (29 May)
Sandbag joined other civil society groups in signing an open letter condemning misleading green claims by steelmakers using high-emissions coal-based production and calling for credible, transparent emissions accounting standards in global steel markets.
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Carbon Pulse – "EU must widen CBAM scope for it to be effective, says think tank" (26 May)
Carbon Pulse highlighted Sandbag’s latest CBAM survey response, which calls on the Commission to broaden the mechanism horizontally (to additional products) and vertically (to key precursors and international transport), paving the way to end free allocations and close remaining emissions gaps.
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DG TAXUD Survey on CBAM (7 May)
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Sandbag filed a detailed response to the Commission’s targeted survey on extending CBAM to indirect emissions, urging that power-sector emissions for imported steel and aluminium be covered to close loopholes and accelerate full free-allocation phase-out.
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We want to hear from you!
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Do you have feedback on our newsletter? Let us know!
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Connect with us on social media to stay updated on our activities and get involved!
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