Publications
Preventing double counting: Sandbag challenges methodology on green hydrogen (RFNBO).
Sandbag welcomes the opportunity offered by the European Commission to provide feedback on the draft Delegated Act defining a method for assessing greenhouse gas emission savings for certain fuels. However, we are concerned that, despite the commendable intention...
RePowerEU: Fiddling with the Carbon Market puts the Climate at Risk
[See new analysis with EC, EP and Council proposals] The European Commission’s plan to raise revenues from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) increases the risk to exceed the market’s emission limit. On May 18th the European Commission announced a plan to use...
Letter to members of the European Parliament Environment (ENVI) committee
The negotiations on key climate files of the Fit For 55 package which was launched by the European Commission in July 2021, are approaching critical moments. On 16-17 May, the Environment (ENVI) committee of the European Parliament will vote on the reports for the...
Reform, not a patch, will curb carbon price volatility
As energy prices hit record levels, the European Union’s carbon emissions permits – which hit €100 on futures markets in February – have been accused of making electricity too expensive, and although natural gas has a much larger responsibility, the carbon price...
Risk of surplus with Market Stability Reserve – a short story
The EU is in the process of reforming its carbon market (EU ETS) in line with raising the bloc’s emission reduction target up to 55%, from 40% currently. Amongst the many features…
Time to vote for an EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) that works for climate and industrial transformation
Today the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament will vote on some key aspects of the bloc’s Emissions Trading Scheme. Sandbag has teamed up with other NGOs…
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...
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 is found in the industrial sectors. Consequently, a more robust...
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 European carbon market, currently under review, will likely generate...
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 being sustainable in the long run. It also creates competitive...
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