Coal emissions soar above legal limits in Western Balkans, despite EU carbon pressure
The Western Balkans’ ageing coal plants are breaching legal pollution limits and operating beyond closure deadlines, despite pressure from the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), an NGO has warned.
Read MoreFEATURE: Brussels “seriously considering” free EU ETS permits for shipping firms using clean fuels
The European Commission is “seriously considering” granting free CO2 permits to shipping companies that use clean fuels as part of the upcoming reform of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) due to be presented in July.
Read MoreIndustry, NGOs unite in urging Brussels to exclude carbon credits from EU CBAM
NGOs and European industry associations are pushing back against the European Commission’s plan to allow international carbon credits to be deducted from importers’ Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) fees, in a statement released on Wednesday.
Read MoreBrussels aims for swift adoption of new benchmarks to release extra free EU ETS allowances
The European Commission will present in July a separate proposal with additional benchmarks for certain industries to increase their allocated free ETS allowances, alongside the revision of the bloc’s carbon market, and will work with co-legislators for a swift adoption, it confirmed on Tuesday.
Read MoreEuropean steel and chemicals giants urge EU leaders to freeze ETS costs
Europe’s largest steel and chemical companies have urged EU leaders to halt rising carbon costs they fear will result from an expected reform of the bloc’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) due to be presented in July.
Read MoreEU states back updated free allocation benchmarks in exchange of separate fallback proposal
EU member states approved on Monday the updated benchmarks used to determine the number of free ETS allowances handed to industries for the next five years, while Brussels also committed to put forward a new proposal with more specific ‘fallback’ values in July.
Read MoreBRIEFING: Global governments urge Brussels to simplify CBAM compliance rules
Governments around the world have urged the EU to simplify what they describe as overly prescriptive and complex requirements for complying with its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Read MoreEU member states agree to extend CBAM to downstream sectors from 2028
EU member states agreed on Friday to extend the bloc’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to downstream goods from Jan. 2028, while tightening the conditions for temporarily exempting products and broadening the list of goods covered.
Read MoreIndustry, governments renew push to freeze EU ETS benchmarks as NGOs demand transparency
Energy-intensive industries and several European governments are still urging the EU to suspend a planned tightening of benchmarks that determine how many free allowances installations receive under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), including steep cuts to key “fallback” values, while NGOs and think tanks push for more transparency in how the new rules are set.
Read MoreFEATURE: EPP divisions cast shadow over bid to lead EU carbon market reform talks
Veteran EU Parliament lawmaker Peter Liese appears the obvious choice to lead negotiations on the reform of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) later this year, but divisions within his centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) over the future of the EU carbon market could yet block his appointment.
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