Diretriz do sistema de comércio de emissões da ue (eu ets)
Revisão para a fase 4 (2021-2030)
A Comissão Europeia apresentou, em Julho de 2018, uma proposta legislativa para rever o sistema de comércio de emissões da UE (EU ETS) para o período posterior a 2020.
Este é o primeiro passo para cumprir o objectivo da UE de reduzir as emissões de gases com efeito de estufa em, pelo menos, 40% no país até 2030, de acordo com o enquadramento da política climática e energética de 2030 e como parte da sua contribuição para o Acordo de Paris.
Aumentando o ritmo dos cortes de emissões.
Para atingir o objectivo de pelo menos 40% da UE, os sectores abrangidos pelo RCLE têm de reduzir as suas emissões em 43% em comparação com 2005.
Para este fim, o número total de licenças de emissão diminuirá a uma taxa anual de 2,2% a partir de 2021, em comparação com 1,74% atualmente.
Isso equivale a uma redução adicional de emissões nos setores abrangidos pelo ETS de cerca de 556 milhões de toneladas ao longo da década - equivalente às emissões anuais do Reino Unido.
Regras de vazamento de carbono melhoradas.
A proposta desenvolve regras previsíveis, robustas e justas para enfrentar o risco de vazamento de carbono.
Revisando o sistema de alocação gratuita para se concentrar em setores com maior risco de deslocalização de sua produção fora da UE - cerca de 50 setores no total Um número considerável de licenças gratuitas reservadas para instalações novas e em crescimento. Regras mais flexíveis para alinhar melhor a quantidade de licenças gratuitas com números de produção Atualização de benchmarks para refletir os avanços tecnológicos desde 2008.
Espera-se que cerca de 6,3 bilhões de licenças sejam alocados gratuitamente para as empresas no período 2021-2030.
Financiando a inovação com baixa emissão de carbono e a modernização do setor de energia.
Vários mecanismos de apoio serão estabelecidos para ajudar a indústria e os setores de energia a enfrentar os desafios de inovação e investimento da transição para uma economia de baixo carbono.
Estes incluem dois novos fundos:
Fundo de Inovação - alargando o apoio existente à demonstração de tecnologias inovadoras para a inovação inovadora no Fundo de Modernização da Indústria - facilitando os investimentos na modernização do sector da energia e dos sistemas energéticos mais amplos e reforçando a eficiência energética em 10 Estados-Membros com baixos rendimentos.
As licenças gratuitas também continuarão disponíveis para modernizar o setor de energia nesses Estados-Membros de baixa renda.
Entrada de partes interessadas.
As partes interessadas estiveram envolvidas em vários estágios no desenvolvimento desta proposta.
Foram realizadas extensas consultas em 2018, incluindo.
Na sequência destas consultas e da análise dos objectivos da política climática da UE para 2030, a Comissão procedeu a uma avaliação de impacto.
A proposta legislativa foi submetida ao Parlamento Europeu, ao Conselho, ao Comité Económico e Social e ao Comité das Regiões para uma análise aprofundada no âmbito do processo legislativo ordinário.
O público teve a possibilidade de fornecer feedback sobre a proposta legislativa após a sua adopção pela Comissão Europeia. Foram recebidos comentários de 85 partes interessadas e foi apresentado um resumo ao Parlamento Europeu e ao Conselho.
Tampão de emissão e subsídios.
O volume global de gases com efeito de estufa que pode ser emitido pelas usinas de energia, fábricas e outras instalações fixas abrangidas pelo sistema de comércio de emissões da UE (EU ETS) é limitado por um "limite" no número de licenças de emissão. Um limite separado aplica-se ao setor de aviação. Dentro destes limites europeus, as empresas recebem ou compram licenças de emissão que podem negociar conforme necessário.
Cada subsídio dá ao titular o direito de emitir.
uma tonelada de dióxido de carbono (CO 2), o principal gás com efeito de estufa ou a quantidade equivalente de dois gases estufa mais potentes, óxido nitroso (N 2 O) e perfluorocarbonos (PFC).
Algumas licenças são alocadas ou vendidas especificamente aos operadores de aviação. As companhias aéreas podem usar quaisquer subsídios para fins de conformidade, mas as instalações fixas não podem usar subsídios de aviação.
O cap para instalações fixas diminui a cada ano.
O limite de 2018 para emissões de instalações fixas foi fixado em 2.084.301.856 subsídios. Durante a fase 3 do RCLE UE (2018-2020), este limite diminui anualmente através de um factor de redução linear de 1,74% da quantidade total média de licenças emitidas anualmente em 2008-2018. Isso equivale a uma redução de 38.264.246 subsídios a cada ano.
O factor de redução linear determina o ritmo das reduções de emissões no ETS da UE. É uma característica sem data de término e, como tal, dá certeza aos investidores sobre o retorno do investimento em reduções de emissões.
Graças ao limite decrescente, o número de licenças que podem ser utilizadas por instalações fixas para cobrir as emissões será 21% menor em 2020 do que em 2005.
Para atingir o objectivo de reduzir as emissões da UE em 40% até 2030 em comparação com 1990, acordado pelos líderes da UE como parte do quadro climático e energético de 2030, o limite terá de diminuir 2,2% por ano a partir de 2021.
Isso reduziria as emissões de instalações fixas para cerca de 43% abaixo dos níveis de 2005 até 2030. Em 2050, as emissões seriam reduzidas em cerca de 90% em relação a 2005.
Capa de aviação fixada em 210 milhões de licenças para 2018-2020.
O limite do sector da aviação continua a ser o mesmo em cada ano do período comercial 2018-2020.
O limite foi fixado provisoriamente em 210.349.264 subsídios de aviação por ano, que é 5% abaixo do nível médio anual de emissões da aviação no período de base 2004-2006.
O limite será ajustado para incluir actividades de aviação adicionais resultantes da plena integração da Croácia na parte da aviação do RCLE da UE em 1 de Janeiro de 2018.
Documentos úteis.
Abra todas as perguntas.
Comércio de emissões: Perguntas e Respostas sobre a segunda decisão da Comissão sobre o limite EU ETS para 2018 (outubro de 2018)
Qual é o limite EU ETS e por que são necessárias duas etapas para configurá-lo?
O limite EU EU é o montante total de licenças de emissão a emitir para um determinado ano no âmbito do sistema de comércio de licenças de emissão da UE (EU ETS). Uma vez que cada subsídio representa o direito de emitir uma tonelada de CO 2 - ou uma quantidade de outros gases com efeito de estufa, dando a mesma contribuição para o aquecimento global como uma tonelada de CO 2 - o número total de licenças, ou seja, o "limite", determina o máximo quantidade de emissões possível no âmbito do RCLE da UE.
Em julho de 2018, a Comissão adotou uma decisão que determinou o limite máximo para 2018 com base no escopo atual do ETS da UE, ou seja, as instalações abrangidas no período 2008-2018. A segunda decisão, adotada hoje, leva em consideração o alcance alargado do ETS da UE a partir de 2018.
Quais os novos setores e gases abrangidos pelo âmbito ampliado?
O ETS da UE abrange instalações que realizam atividades específicas. Desde o seu lançamento em 2005, o sistema cobriu, acima de certos limiares de capacidade, centrais elétricas e outras instalações de combustão, refinarias de petróleo, fornos de coque, instalações de ferro e aço e instalações de produção de cimento, vidro, limão, tijolos, cerâmica, celulose, papel e cartão . Quanto aos gases de efeito estufa, atualmente cobre apenas emissões de dióxido de carbono, com exceção dos Países Baixos e da Áustria, que optaram por incluir emissões de emissões de óxido nitroso (N2O) de algumas instalações específicas.
A partir de 2018, o alcance do ETS será alargado para incluir outros sectores e gases com efeito de estufa. Inter alia, serão incluídas mais emissões de CO 2 das instalações produtoras de produtos químicos orgânicos, hidrogênio, amônia e alumínio, assim como as emissões de N2O da produção de produção de ácido nítrico, adípico e glicocálico e perfluorocarbonos do setor de alumínio. As instalações que realizam atividades que resultam em essas emissões serão incluídas no RCLE da UE a partir de 2018.
Qual é o limite para 2018 e como foi determinado?
O limite máximo para o ano de 2018 foi determinado em 2.084.301.856 subsídios.
Este valor baseia-se nos planos nacionais de atribuição dos Estados-Membros para o período de 2008 a 2018, mas também leva em conta o alcance alargado do RCLE UE a partir de 2018, bem como as instalações "optaram pelo sistema pelos Estados-Membros a partir de 2008 . É composto dos seguintes elementos:
A quantidade de licenças de emissão da União que foram emitidas pelos Estados-Membros em conformidade com as decisões da Comissão sobre os planos nacionais de atribuição dos Estados-Membros para o período de 2008 a 2018. Este montante ascende a 1.976.784.044 em 2018. A quantidade média anual de licenças de emissão que foram emitidos pelos Estados-Membros para instalações que os Estados-Membros "optaram" no ETS da UE. Isso equivale a 2.678.155. A quantidade de licenças que leva em conta o efeito do alcance alargado do RCLE UE, ou seja, instalações que serão incluídas a partir de 2018. Isto diz respeito a instalações que emitem os seguintes gases com efeito de estufa: emissões de CO 2 de produtos petroquímicos, amoníaco e alumínio, emissões de N2O da produção de produção de ácido nítrico, adípico e glicocálico e perfluorocarbonos do setor de alumínio.
A partir desta quantidade, a quantidade de licenças que representam o efeito das instalações excluídas do ETS da UE deveria ser deduzida. O montante correspondente deduzido foi de 4.751.898.
Uma vez que o limite máximo para 2018 é calculado a partir do meio do período de 2008 a 2018, ou seja, 2018, o fator de redução linear de 1,74% (em números absolutos: 38,264,246 subsídios) deve ser aplicado três vezes (em 2018, 2018, 2018) a fim de chegar ao total da quantidade absoluta total de licenças (cap) para 2018, ou seja, 2.084.301.856 subsídios.
Como os vários números foram estabelecidos no nível de 2018?
O número que representa a quantidade de licenças a emitir de acordo com os Planos Nacionais de Alocação foi estabelecido aplicando a mesma metodologia utilizada na decisão de julho da Comissão [2]. Basicamente, isso significa que a quantidade total realmente disponível no período de 2008 a 2018 foi adicionada e dividida por cinco. No entanto, conforme estabelecido na presente decisão, informações adicionais foram levadas em consideração, principalmente relacionadas a novos operadores e instalações fechadas. Como conseqüência, os números correspondentes são agora ligeiramente superiores aos indicados na decisão de julho.
A figura que representa o efeito dos opt-ins foi estabelecida de forma semelhante à que figura acima, ou seja, a média anual relevante para 2018 foi calculada somando o valor total das licenças optadas para o período de 2008 a 2018 e dividindo-o pelo número de anos relevante.
A fim de determinar a quantidade de licenças pelas quais o limite deve ser ajustado para reflectir o âmbito alargado do RCLE UE a partir de 2018, os Estados-Membros devem assegurar que os operadores das instalações que realizam actividades que serão incluídas na UE ETS apenas a partir de 2018 apresentou dados de emissões devidamente fundamentados e verificados de forma independente.
Os Estados-Membros devem notificar dados devidamente fundamentados à Comissão até 30 de junho de 2018. Os dados notificados à Comissão abrangem diferentes anos de emissões verificadas e, portanto, não são facilmente comparáveis. A Comissão teve que estabelecer uma abordagem com vista a proporcionar condições equitativas para todas as instalações incluídas no RCLE-UE a partir de 2018. Para este fim e para a criação da quantidade de licenças para a União em 2018, a Comissão assumiu que as instalações a serem incluídas a partir de 2018 tiveram o mesmo nível de esforços de redução de emissões que as instalações já incluíram antes de 2018. Por esse motivo, o fator de redução linear de 1,74% foi aplicado ao valor médio anual a partir do meio do período coberto pelos dados de emissão verificados notificados por cada Estado-Membro. O resultado representaria o nível de emissões em 2018, se as instalações em questão já estivessem incluídas no ETS da UE.
Como os dados de emissão para os novos setores e gases foram coletados?
Os Estados-Membros recolheram os dados necessários das instalações que realizam actividades que serão incluídas no RCLE-UE a partir de 2018. Estes dados tiveram de ser verificados independentemente antes de os operadores das instalações relevantes os apresentarem às autoridades competentes dos respectivos Estados-Membros (para cujo prazo era 30 de abril de 2018). Sempre que os Estados-Membros considerassem estes dados devidamente fundamentados, poderiam notificá-los à Comissão até 30 de Junho de 2018. Com base nestas notificações, a Comissão tomou em consideração o alcance alargado do RCLE UE a partir de 2018.
O limite de 2018 é final?
Na prática e em grande medida sim. No entanto, o ajuste fino marginal provavelmente será necessário ao longo do tempo, para os seguintes motivos potenciais:
Antes do final de 2018, mais novos operadores podem entrar no mercado solicitando subsídios de reservas de novos operadores de novos Estados-Membros que não puderam ser levados em consideração no cálculo do limite até o momento. Estas reservas não foram tidas em conta, quer porque o Estado-Membro decidiu não vender ou licenciar licenças de emissão que não tenham sido distribuídas aos novos participantes até o final de 2018, ou porque ainda não decidiu vender ou licitar subsídios. Somente as reservas dos novos participantes dos Estados-Membros que decidiram vender ou leilão dessas licenças foram levadas em consideração até o momento. Os projetos de redução de emissão planejados no âmbito do mecanismo de Implementação Conjunta do Protocolo de Quioto (ou em alguns casos no Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo) podem não se materializar e, portanto, não podem gerar créditos que possam ser usados para compensar as emissões no ETS da UE. Por este motivo, as licenças podem ser alocadas a partir do chamado "JI reservado"; Os Estados-Membros podem ainda "optar" pelas instalações e actividades do EET da UE não abrangidas pelo âmbito de aplicação da directiva; Os Estados-Membros podem excluir, no terceiro período de negociação, algumas pequenas instalações específicas se houver medidas equivalentes. Uma vez que as medidas correspondentes não serão notificadas à Comissão antes do final de Setembro de 2018, não poderão ser tidas em conta na presente decisão.
Por estas razões, os números finais do limite de 2018 podem, portanto, não estar disponíveis antes de 2018. No entanto, para manter o público informado, a Comissão atualizará os números em 2018 ou mais tarde. Essas atualizações devem levar apenas a mudanças marginais na quantidade global de licenças disponíveis a partir de 2018.
O que acontecerá com o limite após 2018?
O limite diminuirá anualmente em 1,74% da quantidade total média anual de licenças emitidas pelos Estados-Membros em 2008-2018. Em termos absolutos, isto significa que o número de licenças será reduzido anualmente em 37.435.387. Esta redução anual continuará para além de 2020, mas poderá ser objecto de revisão até 2025.
O que acontece se a UE aumentar o seu objectivo de redução de gases com efeito de estufa para 2020 de 20% para 30%?
Se a UE decidiu mudar para um objetivo de redução de 30%, o limite deveria ser revisado. A decisão de hoje reflete o objetivo de redução de 20% dos níveis de 1990 consagrado na legislação atual. Isso se traduz em um corte de 21% nas emissões das instalações do RCLE da UE até 2020 em comparação com os níveis de 2005.
A aviação está incluída na decisão?
A aviação não está incluída nesta decisão. O limite a atribuir aos operadores de aeronaves será determinado por uma decisão separada da Comissão, tal como solicitado na legislação [3], que trará a aviação para o EU ETS a partir de 2018.
Participação no Sistema de Comércio de Emissões da UE (EU ETS)
Introdução ao Sistema de Comércio de Emissões da UE, incluindo o funcionamento do sistema de cap-and-trade, como alocações gratuitas são alocadas, detalhes sobre o cumprimento, a inclusão da aviação no sistema e o esquema de exclusão do Reino Unido para pequenos emissores e hospitais.
Visão geral.
O EU ETS é o maior sistema multi-país, multi-sectorial de comércio de emissões de gases de efeito estufa no mundo.
Inclui mais de 11.000 centrais eléctricas e fábricas industriais em toda a UE, com cerca de 1.000 destes no Reino Unido. Estas incluem usinas, refinarias de petróleo, plataformas offshore e indústrias que produzem ferro e aço, cimento e lima, papel, vidro, cerâmica e produtos químicos.
Outras organizações, incluindo universidades e hospitais, também podem ser cobertas pelo EU ETS, dependendo da capacidade de combustão do equipamento em seus sites. Os operadores de aviação que voam para ou de um aeroporto europeu também são abrangidos pelo EU ETS.
Esta orientação explica o sistema de cap e comércio da UE, incluindo detalhes das fases de entrega do Sistema. Fornece informações sobre o pedido do Reino Unido para subsídios gratuitos de Fase III através de suas Medidas Nacionais de Implementação (NIMs), bem como detalhes de conformidade e verificação. Existem também seções sobre a regulamentação de emissões para o setor de aviação e o Esquema de exclusão de pequenos emissores e hospitais do Reino Unido.
Cap e comércio.
O EU ETS trabalha numa base "capital e comércio", pelo que existe um "limite" ou limite fixado nas emissões totais de gases de efeito estufa permitidas por todos os participantes abrangidos pelo Sistema e este limite é convertido em licenças de emissão negociáveis.
As licenças de emissão negociáveis são alocadas aos participantes no mercado; No ETS da UE, isto é feito através de uma mistura de alocação gratuita e leilões. Um subsídio dá ao titular o direito de emitir 1 tonelada de CO2 (ou o equivalente). Os participantes abrangidos pelo RCLE da UE devem acompanhar e comunicar as suas emissões a cada ano e entregar subsídios de emissão suficientes para cobrir as suas emissões anuais.
Os participantes que provavelmente emitem mais de sua alocação podem optar entre tomar medidas para reduzir suas emissões ou comprar subsídios adicionais; quer do mercado secundário - por exemplo, as empresas que possuem subsídios que não precisam - ou do Estado-Membro realizaram leilões. Mais informações estão disponíveis na página de EU ETS: mercados de carbono.
Não importa onde (em termos de localização física) as reduções de emissão são feitas porque a economia de emissões tem o mesmo efeito ambiental onde quer que sejam feitas.
O raciocínio por trás do comércio de emissões é que permite que as reduções de emissões ocorram, onde o custo da redução é menor, diminuindo o custo total de enfrentar as mudanças climáticas.
Como funciona a negociação: um exemplo hipotético simplificado.
Historicamente, a instalação A e a instalação B emitem 210 toneladas de CO2 por ano. Sob o processo de alocação da UE, recebem 200 subsídios cada. No final do primeiro ano, as emissões de 180Mt foram registradas para a instalação A, pois instalou uma caldeira com eficiência energética no início do ano, o que reduziu suas emissões de CO2. Agora, é livre vender suas provisões excedentes no mercado de carbono.
A instalação B, no entanto, emitiu CO2 de 220Mt porque precisava aumentar sua capacidade de produção e era muito caro para investir em tecnologia de eficiência energética.
Portanto, a instalação B comprou subsídios do mercado, que foram disponibilizados porque a instalação A conseguiu vender seus subsídios adicionais.
O efeito líquido é que o investimento em redução de carbono ocorre no lugar mais barato, e as emissões de CO2 são limitadas aos 400 subsídios emitidos para ambas as instalações.
Fases de entrega do Sistema de Comércio de Emissões.
Até à data, foram realizadas ou acordadas 3 fases operacionais do RCLE da UE, embora este esteja previsto que o regime continuará para além de 2020:
Fase I (1 de janeiro de 2005 a 31 de dezembro de 2007)
Esta fase está completa. Mais detalhes sobre esta fase podem ser vistos na versão do Arquivo nacional da página web DECC: EU ETS Phase I.
Fase II (1 de janeiro de 2008 a 31 de dezembro de 2018)
A Fase II do RCLE da UE coincidiu com o primeiro Período de Compromisso de Quioto. A Fase II baseou-se nas lições da primeira fase e foi ampliada para cobrir as emissões de CO2 do vidro, lã mineral, gesso, queima da produção de petróleo e gás offshore, petroquímica, negro de carbono e siderúrgicas integradas.
Na Fase II, cada Estado-Membro desenvolveu um Plano Nacional de Atribuição (NAP), que estabelece a quantidade total de licenças que o Estado-Membro pretendia emitir durante essa fase e como propôs a distribuição dessas licenças a cada um dos seus operadores cobertos pela Sistema. Cada PNA teve que ser aprovado pela Comissão Europeia. O NAP aprovado da Fase II do Reino Unido foi publicado em 16 de março de 2007.
Mais detalhes sobre essa fase podem ser vistos na versão do Arquivo Nacional da versão dos Arquivos Nacionais da página web DECC: EU ETS Phase 2.
Fase III (1 de janeiro de 2018 a 31 de dezembro de 2020)
A fase actual do RCLE da UE baseia-se nas duas fases anteriores e é significativamente revistas para contribuir de forma mais importante para enfrentar as alterações climáticas, incluindo: um limite global da UE sobre o número de licenças disponíveis e um aumento do leilão desses subsídios, bem como como o regime do Reino Unido para reduzir os custos de conformidade para pequenos emissores e hospitais.
O limite máximo da UE reduzirá o número de licenças disponíveis em 1,74% ao ano, proporcionando uma redução global de 21% abaixo das verificações verificadas em 2005 até 2020. A trajetória será calculada a partir de um ponto de partida do ponto médio da Fase II e descreverá um limite declinante a partir de 2018.
Alocação gratuita de licenças de emissão.
Todos os sectores abrangidos pelo RCLE da UE, com excepção da maior parte do sector da energia da UE, dispõem de uma atribuição gratuita de subsídios, a fim de contribuir para a sua transição para uma economia de baixo carbono.
Além disso, os setores industriais com risco significativo de concorrência de países sem custos de carbono similares (ver seção sobre vazamento de carbono no ETS da UE para obter mais informações) são elegíveis para receber uma maior proporção de subsídios gratuitamente.
Em 2018, os Estados-Membros deveriam apresentar à Comissão Europeia uma lista do número preliminar de licenças gratuitas a serem emitidas para cada instalação industrial na Fase III, denominadas "Medidas Nacionais de Implementação" ou "NIM". O Reino Unido apresentou os seus NIMs à Comissão Europeia em 12 de dezembro de 2018 e, subseqüentemente, apresentou NIM modificados em abril de 2018.
Em 5 de setembro de 2018, a Comissão Européia anunciou a conclusão do processo para verificar e confirmar a atribuição gratuita de subsídios do RCLE da UE em NIM de cada Estado-Membro. Ele também anunciou que era necessário um fator de correção intersectorial para garantir que a alocação gratuita em toda a UE permaneça dentro do limite estabelecido na Diretiva ETS. O factor reduziu a alocação preliminar para cada instalação do ETS da UE em 5,73% em 2018, subindo para 17,56% em 2020. A redução média da alocação é, portanto, de 11,58% no período 2018-2020.
A primeira lista abaixo mostra os números de alocação gratuita na Fase III para cada instalação industrial no Reino Unido, conforme aprovado pela Comissão Européia em 18 de dezembro de 2018. A segunda lista mostra os números de alocação gratuita atualizados para a Fase III, levando em consideração as alterações à alocação concordou nas NIMs do Reino Unido para instalações individuais em 30 de abril de 2018, por exemplo devido a paradas parciais, reduções significativas de capacidade ou onde as instalações entraram no ETS da UE (novos participantes). Esta lista será atualizada anualmente para levar em consideração novas mudanças de alocação ao longo da fase.
Alocação livre da Fase III aprovada nas Medidas Nacionais de Implementação do Reino Unido.
PDF, 635KB, 14 páginas.
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Se você usa tecnologia assistiva (como um leitor de tela) e precisa de uma versão deste documento em um formato mais acessível, envie um email para correspondence@decc. gsi. gov. uk. Diga-nos o formato que você precisa. Isso nos ajudará se você disser a tecnologia que você usa.
Tabela de alocação nacional do Reino Unido: alocação gratuita da Fase III, incluindo mudanças na alocação: junho de 2018.
PDF, 727KB, 31 páginas.
Este arquivo pode não ser adequado para usuários de tecnologia assistiva. Solicite um formato acessível.
Se você usa tecnologia assistiva (como um leitor de tela) e precisa de uma versão deste documento em um formato mais acessível, envie um email para correspondence@decc. gsi. gov. uk. Diga-nos o formato que você precisa. Isso nos ajudará se você disser a tecnologia que você usa.
Tabela Nacional de Alocação do Reino Unido: Alocação Nacional da Fase III, incluindo mudanças: abril de 2018.
PDF, 397KB, 32 páginas.
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Tabela Nacional de Alocação do Reino Unido: Alocação Nacional da Fase III, incluindo mudanças: abril de 2018.
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Tabela Nacional de Alocação do Reino Unido: Alocação Nacional de Fase III incluindo mudanças: abril de 2017.
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Fuga de carbono e EU ETS.
O vazamento de carbono é um termo usado para descrever a perspectiva de um aumento nas emissões globais de gases de efeito estufa quando uma empresa muda a produção ou o investimento fora da UE, porque - na ausência de um acordo internacional legalmente vinculativo sobre o clima - eles não conseguem repercutir os aumentos de custos induzidas pelo EU ETS aos seus clientes sem perda significativa de participação de mercado.
A melhor maneira de abordar o vazamento de carbono seria um acordo internacional de conformidade legalmente vinculativo. Isto criaria condições equitativas para a indústria dentro e fora da UE no que se refere à contabilização dos custos do carbono.
Enquanto isso, o ETS da UE fornece dois mecanismos para mitigar o risco de vazamento de carbono. Primeiro, os setores considerados em risco significativo de vazamento de carbono são elegíveis para receber 100% de alocação gratuita de subsídios até o benchmark do setor. Esta é uma fonte significativa de alívio, uma vez que os setores não considerados em risco receberão 80% de sua doação gratuitamente em 2018, diminuindo anualmente para 30% em 2020, com vista a atingir 0% (ou seja, leilão completo) em 2027.
O segundo mecanismo permite que os Estados-Membros compensem os sectores com risco significativo de fuga de carbono em consequência de custos indirectos do ETS da UE (isto é, através de aumentos relacionados com o ETS da UE nos preços da electricidade), desde que os esquemas sejam concebidos dentro do quadro estabelecido pela Comissão Europeia ( consulte a seção sobre o esquema indireto de compensação de vazamento de carbono para mais informações).
O governo britânico apoia firmemente o princípio da alocação gratuita na ausência de um acordo internacional sobre o clima. Acreditamos que a alocação proporcional gratuita de alocações dá alívio a setores com risco significativo de vazamento de carbono, sem aumentar barreiras ao comércio internacional. No entanto, estamos preocupados que as pessoas com maior risco podem não ser suficientemente compensadas no futuro se as regras atuais do ETS da UE não forem reformadas para a Fase IV do RCLE-UE.
O governo do Reino Unido reconhece as preocupações da indústria em torno da competitividade e do vazamento de carbono e está empenhado em garantir que os setores genuinamente em risco significativo de vazamento de carbono sejam protegidos contra esse risco. Em junho de 2018, publicamos um projeto de pesquisa encomendado pelo Departamento de Energia e Mudanças Climáticas e realizado pela Vivid Economics e Ecofys, que investiga a ocorrência de vazamento de carbono até o momento e os principais fatores de vazamento de carbono para uma seleção de setores industriais e avalia. as medidas em vigor para sua mitigação.
O relatório modela o risco de vazamento de carbono em 24 setores industriais e foi produzido em consulta com as partes interessadas do setor. As análises de modelagem mostram que, na ausência de quaisquer medidas de mitigação (como a alocação gratuita de subsídios), não há permissão para o potencial de redução de carbono e nenhum aumento na regulamentação de carbono fora da União Européia, vários setores correm o risco de vazamento. Dado esses pressupostos, a análise de modelagem mostra taxas mais altas de vazamento de carbono do que se espera que ocorram na realidade. As opiniões expressas no relatório são as de seus escritores e não representam uma posição oficial do governo do Reino Unido.
O relatório final, os estudos de caso e a revisão de pares associada estão disponíveis:
Avaliação do status de vazamento de carbono para a alocação gratuita de licenças.
Os setores em risco de vazamento de carbono são avaliados em relação a um conjunto de critérios e limiares estabelecidos na Diretiva ETS da UE. A lista de sectores considerados em risco de vazamento no período 2018-2018 foi acordada através do procedimento de comitologia da UE em dezembro de 2009, com adições à lista feita nas subsequentes decisões da Comissão Européia.
A Directiva ETS da UE permite uma revisão dos sectores em risco a cada cinco anos, com a possibilidade de adicionar sectores à lista anualmente, de forma ad hoc. Em 5 de Maio de 2018, a Comissão Europeia publicou o seu projecto de lista de sectores para o período 2018-19, com base nos critérios quantitativos e qualitativos estabelecidos na Directiva ETS. O projecto de lista de fugas de carbono será apresentado ao Comité das Alterações Climáticas da UE para votação em breve, após o qual deve ser enviado ao Parlamento Europeu e ao Conselho por um exame de três meses antes da adopção.
Em 31 de agosto de 2018, o Reino Unido respondeu à consulta da Comissão Européia sobre a metodologia para a determinação da lista de vazamento de carbono de 2018 a 2019.
Esquema indireto de compensação de vazamento de carbono.
Na Declaração de outono de 2018, o chanceler anunciou que o governo pretendia implementar medidas para reduzir o impacto da política sobre os custos de eletricidade para as indústrias mais intensivas em eletricidade, começando em 2018 e valendo cerca de £ 250 milhões durante o período da Revisão de gastos.
Como parte disso, o governo comprometeu-se a compensar os negócios mais intensivos em eletricidade para ajudar a compensar o custo indireto do Carbon Price Floor e do EU ETS, sujeito às diretrizes de auxílios estatais. No Orçamento de 2018, o Chanceler anunciou que a compensação pelos custos indiretos do Carbon Price Floor e do EU ETS seria estendida até 2019 até 2020.
A Comissão Europeia aprovou as orientações revisadas relativas aos auxílios estatais em matéria de compensação dos custos indirectos do RCLE da UE em Junho de 2018. Estas directrizes enumera os sectores considerados expostos a um risco significativo de fuga de carbono devido a custos indiretos de emissão e fornecem detalhes do máximo níveis de compensação que podem ser disponibilizados para eles. Qualquer sistema de compensação dos Estados-Membros deve ser concebido no quadro estabelecido pela Comissão Europeia.
Em outubro de 2018, o DECC e o BIS lançaram a consulta do esquema de compensação das indústrias de energia intensiva, que estabelece nossas propostas para a elegibilidade e o design do pacote de compensação.
A consulta, que encerrou em dezembro de 2018, proporcionou uma oportunidade para todos os interessados no pacote comentarem as propostas, ajudando-nos a garantir que a compensação seja direcionada às empresas que correm maior risco de vazamento de carbono como resultado da energia e do clima políticas de mudança.
Após uma análise detalhada das respostas e do apuramento dos auxílios estatais para o pacote de compensação do ETS da UE, em maio de 2018 publicamos a resposta do governo à consulta e o projeto de esquema de compensação final para o ETS da UE. O Reino Unido iniciou pagamentos em relação aos custos indiretos do RCLE da UE em 2018.
Para a compensação do preço do preço do carbono, que continua sujeita à aprovação da Autorização de auxílios estatais da Comissão Europeia, esperamos publicar orientações no final do verão e começar os pagamentos pouco depois.
Reserva de Novos Participantes.
A Reserva dos Novos Participantes (NER) é uma reserva de subsídios da UE, reservados para novos operadores ou operadores existentes que tenham aumentado significativamente a capacidade. Os reguladores EU ETS do Reino Unido são responsáveis pela administração e avaliação de todos os aplicativos NER.
Mais informações sobre subsídios podem ser encontradas na página EU ETS: allowances.
Cumprir o ETS da UE.
The EU ETS Regulators are responsible for enforcing compliance with the EU ETS Regulations, including operational functions such as granting and maintaining permits and emissions plans (for aviation), monitoring and reporting (including monitoring plans), assessing verified emission reports (and tonne-kilometre reports), assessing applications to the NER , determining reductions in allocations as a result of changes in capacity or cessation of activities, exchanging of information with UKAS on verifier activities.
For the purpose of calculating civil penalties, BEIS determine the value of the EU ETS carbon price used by the regulator. The determination is published in November each year:
On 7 August 2018, we launched a consultation on a number of technical amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2018 so as to simplify and harmonize EU ETS penalties in the transition to Phase III, improve clarity and reduce the burden for businesses. The consultation closed on 19 September 2018.
For more information on how to comply with EU ETS please visit:
Monitoring, reporting, verification and accreditation.
The European Commission’s Guidance on the Accreditation and Verification Regulation aims to help operators of all stationary installations, aviation operators, verification bodies and regulators perform verifications consistently throughout the EU . It provides practical information and advice on the process and requirements for annual verification required by the EU ETS Directive, the European Commission’s Monitoring and Reporting Regulation and Greenhouse Gas permits/monitoring plans/tonne-kilometre plans.
Finding an accredited EU ETS verifier in the UK.
The UKAS list does not include verifiers accredited by other national accreditation bodies and under Phase III rules there is no ‘registration’ or acceptance procedure for non-UK verifiers. All verifiers are required to demonstrate that they are either accredited (or certified) in accordance with the Accreditation and Verification Regulation. Operators are responsible for ensuring that their verifier is accredited for the relevant scope of work. Details of a verifier’s scope of accreditation can be found on the verifier’s accreditation certificate.
Include the following information in your email:
name of verifier organisation country accreditation identification number a copy of your accreditation certificate full name and email address of the main point of contact (this user will have the responsibility for managing other users for this verifier)
Once the ETSWAP administrator has approved your request for access, ETSWAP will send you an email with the login details for your individual user account.
To apply for a verifier Registry account, email etregistryhelp@environment-agency. gov. uk for an application pack.
Further guidance.
Using UK greenhouse gas inventory data in EU ETS monitoring and reporting: the country-specific factor list.
The European Commission’s Regulation on Monitoring and Reporting allows nationally reported data to be used as default factors in specific circumstances.
Carbon emission factors and calorific values from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory (AEA-Ricardo) are available for annual emissions reporting for the EU ETS :
Emission factors and calorific values for 2017.
MS Excel Spreadsheet , 81.7KB.
The national factors are Tier 2 and Tier 2a emission factors and net calorific values for specific fuels used by particular industries.
The data have largely been extracted from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory that is presented on an annual basis to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC ). The Greenhouse Gas Inventory is developed independently to the EU Emissions Trading System. This data means the data referred to in Article 31(1) of the Monitoring and Reporting Regulation.
The factors in these tables should only be used in accordance with the requirements in an installation’s approved monitoring plan, which is part of the Greenhouse Gas permit.
Tables for previous years are available as follows:
EU ETS non-compliance.
The EU ETS Directive requires Member States to put in place a system of penalties which is effective, proportionate and dissuasive but the nature of the penalties is largely left to Member State discretion (with the exception of the penalty for failure to surrender sufficient allowances in certain circumstances).
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System Regulations 2018 set out the civil penalties to which a person is liable if they do not comply with the EU ETS . DECC has produced the guidance below for the offshore oil and gas industry detailing the Department’s approach to enforcement and sanctions.
The Regulations provide for the right of appeal against decisions of an EU ETS Regulator. In England and Wales appeals for both operators of stationary installations and aircraft operators, as well as offshore installations, are heard by the First-tier Tribunal.
Appeals in Northern Ireland are heard and determined by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC). In Scotland, the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) in the Scottish Government hears and determines appeals on behalf of the Scottish Ministers.
Different arrangements apply to appeals brought by aviation operators against a penalty notice served under the Aviation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2018 for the 2018 scheme year. The relevant rules under the 2018 Regulations continue to apply in relation to any appeal brought against any decision made or notice served under the 2018 Regulations. These provide that the appeal body is the Secretary of State or an independent person appointed by the Secretary of State.
Appeal Determinations.
2018 scheme year: Six appeals determinations have been made under these Regulations:
Aviation in the EU ETS.
The EU Emissions Trading System requires aircraft operators to monitor and report emissions of CO2 and surrender the equivalent number of allowances. The scheme is designed to be a cost-effective means of tackling the CO2 emissions from aviation, enabling the aviation industry to grow sustainably whilst delivering emission reductions. The scheme applies to all flights between airports in the European Economic Area.
The key changes are:
an Intra-European Economic Area (EEA) scope for the Aviation ETS from 1 January 2018 until 31 December 2018 a deferral of compliance deadlines for 2018 emissions until March and April 2018 an exemption for non-commercial operators emitting less than 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per year until 2020 simplified procedures for operators emitting less than 25,000 tonnes of CO2 per year the number of free allowances issued and allowances auctioned are reduced in proportion to the reduction in scope.
We welcome views from any organisation or individual, and the consultation will be of particular interest to aircraft operators, aerodrome operators, verifiers, other participants in the EU ETS and environmental groups.
Regulation of aircraft operators’ emissions.
Each aircraft operator is administered by a single member state. The European Commission produces an annual list showing which operators are administered by which member state.
You can find out more about what operators need to do to comply with the scheme on the EU ETS : operators and activities affected web page.
Auctioning.
Free allocation to aircraft operators.
The European Commission enacted legislation in April 2018 changing the scope of EUETS with regards to international aviation emissions (Regulation (EU ) No 421/2018 amending Directive 2003/87/EC ). As a result of the change in scope of Aviation EU ETS , the UK is obligated to recalculate the allocation of free allowances due to eligible aircraft operators. This recalculation has been done in accordance with the Commission guidance.
The table includes all operators who were previously due free allowances and indicates their new free allowance allocation under the reduced scope. Operators who ceased operations have been removed from this list.
Operators who are now exempt under the new non-commercial de minimis (under 1,000tCO2 per annum calculated on the basis of full scope) still appear in this table. However owing to their exempt status these operators are not due free allowances and as such their Aircraft Operator Holding Account (AOHA) will be marked as ‘excluded’ in the registry – meaning that no transactions can be carried out and no free allowances will be deposited.
If you believe you are no longer due any allowances as a result of the changes or you wish to seek further clarification as to your new free allowance allocation please contact the Environment Agency aviation helpdesk ETAviationHelp@environment-agency. gov. uk.
Historic information.
Please visit the EU ETS legislation page to see UK legislation and EU Regulations.
Please visit the National Archives version of the Aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System web pages to see information relating to aviation/aviation appeals previously available on the DECC website.
Small Emitter and Hospital Opt-out Scheme.
The UK’s Small Emitter and Hospital Opt-out Scheme allows eligible installations to be excluded from Phase 3 (2018 to 2020) of the EU ETS . The scheme has been approved by the European Commission.
Article 27 of the EU ETS Directive enables small emitters and hospitals to be excluded from the EU ETS , with the primary aim of reducing the administrative burdens on these installations. This acknowledges that the administrative costs faced by smaller emitters under the EU ETS are disproportionately high per tonne of CO2, in comparison to the costs for large emitting installations. The Directive requires that excluded installations are subject to a domestic scheme that will deliver an equivalent contribution to emission reductions as the EU ETS .
The UK’s opt-out scheme was designed in consultation with industry and aims to offer a simple, deregulatory alternative to the EU ETS whilst maintaining the incentives for emission reductions. We estimate that the scheme will offer savings of up to £39 million to industry over Phase III.
The opt-out scheme offers deregulatory savings through:
the replacement of a requirement to surrender allowances with an emissions reduction target simplified monitoring, reporting and verification requirements (MRV), including the removal of the requirement for third party verification no requirement to hold an active registry account less burdensome rules for target adjustment following an increase in installation capacity.
Further details on the scheme are contained in the documents listed below. Please note that these documents will be updated later in 2018. The consultations referred to in the ‘Frequently asked questions’ document are now closed.
Participants in the opt-out scheme.
The application period for the opt-out scheme ran from 23 May to 18 July 2018. Operators of 247 installations were approved to participate in the opt-out scheme by the European Commission as excluded from the EU ETS .
The EU ETS Directive does not provide for further installations to join the opt-out scheme.
Previous information on the development of the scheme including, the application period, policy development and the small emitters workshop held on the 12 June 2018, can be viewed on the National Archives website.
Documentar informações.
Published: 22 January 2018.
Updated: 31 July 2017.
31 July 2017 Emission factors and calorific values for 2017. 27 April 2017 UK National Allocation Table: Phase III National Allocation including changes: April 2017. 21 September 2018 Determination of 4 appeals under the Aviation EU ETS. 28 July 2018 Emission factors and calorific values for 2018 29 April 2018 UK National Allocation Table: Phase III National Allocation including changes: April 2018 29 April 2018 UK National Allocation Table: Phase III National Allocation including changes: April 2018 23 October 2018 Jet Airways civil penalty appeal determination added 20 October 2018 Addition of EU ETS strategy and reform paper 26 August 2018 Addition of free aviation allowance table 16 July 2018 Added information regarding Phase IV. 15 May 2018 Peer review of Ecofys cap-setting report published. 30 April 2018 Updated EU ETS National Allocation table published. 7 August 2018 Details of consultation added under "Complying with the EU ETS". 13 May 2018 The Government response to the consultation on Implementing the Aviation Emissions Trading System ‘stop the clock’ Decision in UK Regulations has been published today. 4 March 2018 Includes new information about a carbon leakage call for evidence. 31 January 2018 Update to include the recent European Commission announcement on NIMS 22 January 2018 First published.
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EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)
Guide to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and its impact on business.
Content last updated: November 2018.
The EU ETS - also known as the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme - puts a cap on the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by business and creates a market and price for carbon allowances. It covers 45% of EU emissions, including energy intensive sectors and approximately 12,000 installations.
See further details below on:
The EU ETS: Phase II (2008-2018)
Phase II of the EU ETS ran from from 2008-2018 (the commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol). During this phase, every EU member state:
Developed a National Allocation Plan (NAP) Member State proposed a limit ('cap') on total emissions from relevant installations The plans were approved by the European Commission, in many cases after some revision. Distributed Allowances The 'Cap' was converted into allowances, known as EUAs (1 tonne of Carbon Dioxide = 1 EUA) The Member States distributed these allowances to installations in the scheme in their country according to their approved plan. Up to 10% of the allowances could be auctioned instead of being given for free. These auctions were largest in the UK and in Germany. Operated the Scheme Installations were obliged to monitor and report verified carbon emissions At the end of each year, installations were obliged to surrender sufficient allowances to cover their emissions and could buy additional allowances or sell any surplus Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) credits could be used within the scheme, through the 'Linking Directive', agreed in 2004)
How the EU ETS works now (2018-2020)
Phase III started in 2018 and run until 2020. The biggest changes in Phase III are:
The scheme was also meant to be extended to the aviation industry from January 2018, covering all flights taking off and landing in the EU, including those originating from or travelling to non-EU countries. However in November 2018 the European Commission decided to defer the extension of the scheme to extra-EU flights until after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) General Assembly in Autumn 2018, on the expectation that a global agreement on greenhouse gas mitigation from aviation will be reached. The ETS continues to apply to intra-EU flights from January 2018. Latest information on the EU ETS and aviation can be found on gov. uk. Opt-out.
DECC has introduced an opt-out provision for small emitters and hospitals in the UK, allowing them to move to a more "light-touch" scheme with lower administrative costs (which hit disproportionately smaller companies). The opt-out will deliver an equivalent carbon reduction. Allowances.
At least 50% of allowances will be auctioned from 2018 (rather than given to installations). Use of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allowances will be more tightly restricted to no more than 50% of the reductions required.
Carbon Trust EU ETS reports.
Publication date: 2004 - 2008.
Cutting Carbon in Europe: The 2020 plans and the future of the EU ETS (CTC734)
Publication date: 01/06/2008.
This report analyses amendments to the EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) proposed by the European Commission on the 23 January 2008 and their implications for business.
It concludes that the proposals are a bold and significant step in the right direction that correct weaknesses in the current scheme and provide the level of certainty that business and investors have been calling for.
EU ETS impacts on profitability and trade (CTC728)
Publication date: 11/01/2008.
This report combines data on how business costs would be affected by carbon costs with analysis of the effect on prices and international trade in order to identify the small group of activities for which competitiveness is an issue for the environment, as well as for business, and to identify potential responses.
EU ETS Phase II allocation: implications and lessons (CTC715)
Publication date: 21/05/2007.
This report analyses the implications for the Phase II carbon market (and the resulting industrial abatement incentives) and the wider lessons to be learned from the allocation process.
Allocation and competitiveness in the EU Emissions Trading System: Options for Phase II and beyond (CTC609)
Publication date: 01/06/2006.
This report, based on collaborative research with Climate Strategies, examines the workings of the EU ETS to date and offers analysis and recommendations on its future development.
The study identifies seven key challenges to overcome for the second phase of the EU ETS and sets out the Carbon Trust's own conclusions and recommendations for the future of the EU ETS as an instrument that can both help business deliver emission reductions as efficiently as possible, and also protect and ultimately enhance business competitiveness in a CO 2 - constrained world.
The European Emissions Trading Scheme: Implications for Industrial Competitiveness (CT-2004-04)
Publication date: 30/06/2004.
This report explores in depth the implications of the EU ETS for industrial competitiveness in the UK and the wider EU. It presents our analysis of combined insights from economic modelling and a stakeholder interview programme.
Fundo.
The EU ETS scheme started in 2005 in order to help the EU meet its targets under the Kyoto Protocol (8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels).
The scheme is the world's largest carbon-trading scheme. It provides an incentive for installations to reduce their carbon emissions, because they can then sell their surplus allowances.
Installations are included in the scheme on the basis of their Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emitting activities. Industries that are covered include:
Electricity generation Iron & steel Mineral processing (for example: cement manufacture) Pulp and paper processing.
More information on the EU ETS can be found on the DECC website.
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The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)
The EU Emissions Trading System explained.
The EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is a cornerstone of the EU's policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. It is the world's first major carbon market and remains the biggest one.
operates in 31 countries (all 28 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) limits emissions from more than 11,000 heavy energy-using installations (power stations & industrial plants) and airlines operating between these countries covers around 45% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions.
For a detailed overview, see:
A 'cap and trade' system.
The EU ETS works on the 'cap and trade' principle.
A cap is set on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted by installations covered by the system. The cap is reduced over time so that total emissions fall .
Within the cap, companies receive or buy emission allowances which they can trade with one another as needed. They can also buy limited amounts of international credits from emission-saving projects around the world. O limite do número total de permissões disponíveis garante que eles tenham um valor.
After each year a company must surrender enough allowances to cover all its emissions, otherwise heavy fines are imposed. Se uma empresa reduz suas emissões, ela pode manter os subsídios de reposição para cobrir suas necessidades futuras, ou então vendê-las para outra empresa que não possui subsídios.
Trading brings flexibility that ensures emissions are cut where it costs least to do so . A robust carbon price also promotes investment in clean, low-carbon technologies .
Key features of phase 3 (2018-2020)
The EU ETS is now in its third phase – significantly different from phases 1 and 2.
The main changes are:
A single, EU-wide cap on emissions applies in place of the previous system of national caps Auctioning is the default method for allocating allowances (instead of free allocation), and harmonised allocation rules apply to the allowances still given away for free More sectors and gases included 300 million allowances set aside in the New Entrants Reserve to fund the deployment of innovative renewable energy technologies and carbon capture and storage through the NER 300 programme.
Sectors and gases covered.
The system covers the following sectors and gases with the focus on emissions that can be measured, reported and verified with a high level of accuracy:
carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from power and heat generation energy-intensive industry sectors including oil refineries, steel works and production of iron, aluminium, metals, cement, lime, glass, ceramics, pulp, paper, cardboard, acids and bulk organic chemicals commercial aviation nitrous oxide (N 2 O) from production of nitric, adipic and glyoxylic acids and glyoxal perfluorocarbons (PFCs) from aluminium production.
Participation in the EU ETS is mandatory for companies in these sectors , but.
in some sectors only plants above a certain size are included certain small installations can be excluded if governments put in place fiscal or other measures that will cut their emissions by an equivalent amount in the aviation sector, until 2018 the EU ETS applies only to flights between airports located in the European Economic Area (EEA).
Delivering emissions reductions.
The EU ETS has proved that putting a price on carbon and trading in it can work. Emissions from installations in the scheme are falling as intended – by around 5% compared to the beginning of phase 3 (2018) (see 2018 figures).
In 2020 , emissions from sectors covered by the system will be 21% lower than in 2005 .
Developing the carbon market.
Set up in 2005, the EU ETS is the world's first and biggest international emissions trading system, accounting for over three-quarters of international carbon trading.
The EU ETS is also inspiring the development of emissions trading in other countries and regions. The EU aims to link the EU ETS with other compatible systems.
Main EU ETS legislation.
30/04/2018 - Consolidated version of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC 23/04/2009 - Directive 2009/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the Community 19/11/2008 - Directive 2008/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community 27/10/2004 - Directive 2004/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community, in respect of the Kyoto Protocol's project mechanisms 13/10/2003 - Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC.
Carbon market reports.
23/11/2017 – COM(2017) 693 – Report on the functioning of the European carbon market 01/02/2017 - COM(2017) 48 - Report on the functioning of the European carbon market 18/11/2018 - COM(2018) 576 - Report on the functioning of the European carbon market 14/11/2018 - COM(2018) 652 - The state of the European carbon market in 2018.
Revision of the EU ETS for phase 3.
04/02/2018 - European Council conclusions of 4 February 2018 (see conclusions 23 and 24) 18/03/2018 - Guidance on interpretation of Annex I of the EU ETS Directive (excl. aviation activities) 18/03/2018 - Guidance paper to identify electricity generators 06/04/2009 - Council press release on the adoption of the climate and energy package 12/12/2008 - Presidency conclusions of the European Council (11 and 12 December 2008) 12/12/2008 - European Council Statement on the use of auction revenues 23/01/2008 - Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system of the Community 23/01/2008 - Commission staff working document - Accompanying document to the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the EU greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system - Impact assessment.
Implementação.
04/07/2018 - Amended Draft Regulation on determining international credit entitlements 05/06/2018 - Draft regulation on determining international credit entitlements 05/05/2018 Commission Regulation (EU) No 389/2018 of 2 May 2018 establishing a Union Registry pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Decisions No 280/2004/EC and No 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulations (EU) No 920/2018 and No 1193/2018 Text with EEA relevance 18/11/2018 - Commission Regulation establishing a Union Registry for the trading period commencing on 1 January 2018, and subsequent trading periods, of the Union emissions trading scheme pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Decision 280/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Regulations (EC) No 2216/2004 and (EU) No 920/2018 - not yet published in the Official Journal 07/10/2018 - Commission Regulation (EU) No 920/2018 for a standardised and secured system of registries pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Decision No 280/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council - version not including changes brought by Regulation of 18 November 2018 08/10/2008 - Commission Regulation (EC) No 994/2008 for a standardised and secured system of registries pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Decision No 280/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council - version applicable until 31 December 2018 26/10/2007 - EEA Joint Committee Decision No 146/2007 linking the EU ETS with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein 13/11/2006 - Commission Decision 2006/780/EC on avoiding DOUBLE COUNTING of greenhouse gas emission reductions under the Community emissions trading scheme for project activities under the Kyoto Protocol pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document number C(2006) 5362) 21/12/2004 - Consolidated version of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2216/2004 for a standardised and secured system of registries amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 916/2007 of 31 July 2007, Commission Regulation (EC) No 994/2008 of 8 October 2008 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 920/2018 of 7 October 2018 - version not including changes brought by Regulation of 18 November 2018.
Application of VAT.
Legislative History of Directive 2003/87/EC.
Work prior to the Commission proposal.
08/02/2000 - COM(2000) 87 - Green Paper on greenhouse gas emissions trading within the European Union Mandate and results of ECCP Working Group 1 : Flexible mechanisms 04/09/2001 - Chairman's Summary Record of Stakeholder consultation meeting (with Industry and Environmental NGOs) 19/05/1999 - COM(1999) 230 - Preparing for Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol 03/06/1998 - COM(1998) 353 - Climate Change - Towards an EU Post-Kyoto Strategy Scope of the EU ETS: 07/2007 - Small Installations within the EU Emissions Trading System 10/2006 - Inclusion of additional activities and gases into the EU Emissions Trading System Further harmonisation and increased predictability: 12/2006 - The approach to new entrants and closures 10/2006 - Auctioning of CO2 emission allowances in the EU ETS 10/2006 - Harmonisation of allocation methodologies 12/2006 - Report on international competitiveness ECCP working group on emissions trading on the review of the EU ETS 15/06/2007 - Final report of the 4th meeting on Linking with Emission Trading Systems in Third Countries 22/05/2007 - Final report of the 3rd meeting on Further Harmonisation and Increased Predictability 26/04/2007 - Final Report of the 2nd meeting on Robust Compliance and Enforcement 09/03/2007 - Final Report of the 1st meeting on The Scope of the Directive.
Commission proposal of October 2001.
22/01/2002 - Non-paper on synergies between the EC emissions trading proposal (COM(2001)581) and the IPPC Directive 23/10/2001 - COM(2001) 581 - Proposal for a framework Directive for greenhouse gas emissions trading within the European Community.
Commission's reaction to reading of the proposal in Council and Parliament (including Council's common position)
18/07/2003 - COM(2003) 463 - Opinion of the Commission on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 20/06/2003 - COM(2003) 364 - Commission Communication to the European Parliament concerning the Council's Common Position on the adoption of a Directive establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC 18/03/2003 - Common Position (EC) No 28/2003 - Council's Common Position on the adoption of a Directive establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC 27/11/2002 - COM(2002) 680 - Amended proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC Faq.
Open all questions.
Questions and Answers on the revised EU Emissions Trading System (December 2008)
What is the aim of emissions trading?
The aim of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is to help EU Member States achieve their commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way. Allowing participating companies to buy or sell emission allowances means that emission cuts can be achieved at least cost.
The EU ETS is the cornerstone of the EU's strategy for fighting climate change. It is the first international trading system for CO 2 emissions in the world and has been in operation since 2005. As of I January 2008 it applies not only to the 27 EU Member States, but also to the other three members of the European Economic Area – Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It currently covers over 10,000 installations in the energy and industrial sectors which are collectively responsible for close to half of the EU's emissions of CO 2 and 40% of its total greenhouse gas emissions. An amendment to the EU ETS Directive agreed in July 2008 will bring the aviation sector into the system from 2018.
Como funciona o comércio de emissões?
The EU ETS is a 'cap and trade' system, that is to say it caps the overall level of emissions allowed but, within that limit, allows participants in the system to buy and sell allowances as they require. These allowances are the common trading 'currency' at the heart of the system. One allowance gives the holder the right to emit one tonne of CO 2 or the equivalent amount of another greenhouse gas. The cap on the total number of allowances creates scarcity in the market.
In the first and second trading period under the scheme, Member States had to draw up national allocation plans (NAPs) which determine their total level of ETS emissions and how many emission allowances each installation in their country receives. At the end of each year installations must surrender allowances equivalent to their emissions. Companies that keep their emissions below the level of their allowances can sell their excess allowances. Those facing difficulty in keeping their emissions in line with their allowances have a choice between taking measures to reduce their own emissions – such as investing in more efficient technology or using less carbon-intensive energy sources – or buying the extra allowances they need on the market, or a combination of the two. Such choices are likely to be determined by relative costs. In this way, emissions are reduced wherever it is most cost-effective to do so.
How long has the EU ETS been operating?
The EU ETS was launched on 1 January 2005. The first trading period ran for three years to the end of 2007 and was a 'learning by doing' phase to prepare for the crucial second trading period. The second trading period began on 1 January 2008 and runs for five years until the end of 2018. The importance of the second trading period stems from the fact that it coincides with the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, during which the EU and other industrialised countries must meet their targets to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For the second trading period EU ETS emissions have been capped at around 6.5% below 2005 levels to help ensure that the EU as a whole, and Member States individually, deliver on their Kyoto commitments.
What are the main lessons learned from experience so far?
The EU ETS has put a price on carbon and proved that trading in greenhouse gas emissions works. The first trading period successfully established the free trading of emission allowances across the EU, put in place the necessary infrastructure and developed a dynamic carbon market. The environmental benefit of the first phase may be limited due to excessive allocation of allowances in some Member States and some sectors, due mainly to a reliance on emission projections before verified emissions data became available under the EU ETS. When the publication of verified emissions data for 2005 highlighted this “over-allocation”, the market reacted as would be expected by lowering the market price of allowances. The availability of verified emissions data has allowed the Commission to ensure that the cap on national allocations under the second phase is set at a level that results in real emission reductions.
Besides underlining the need for verified data, experience so far has shown that greater harmonisation within the EU ETS is imperative to ensure that the EU achieves its emissions reductions objectives at least cost and with minimal competitive distortions. The need for more harmonisation is clearest with respect to how the cap on overall emission allowances is set.
The first two trading periods also show that widely differing national methods for allocating allowances to installations threaten fair competition in the internal market. Furthermore, greater harmonisation, clarification and refinement are needed with respect to the scope of the system, the access to credits from emission-reduction projects outside the EU, the conditions for linking the EU ETS to emissions trading systems elsewhere and the monitoring, verification and reporting requirements.
What are the main changes to the EU ETS and as of when will they apply?
The agreed design changes will apply as of the third trading period, i. e. January 2018. While preparatory work will be initiated immediately, the applicable rules will not change until January 2018 to ensure that regulatory stability is maintained.
The EU ETS in the third period will be a more efficient, more harmonised and fairer system.
Increased efficiency is achieved by means of a longer trading period (8 years instead of 5 years), a robust and annually declining emissions cap (21% reduction in 2020 compared to 2005) and a substantial increase in the amount of auctioning (from less than 4% in phase 2 to more than half in phase 3).
More harmonisation has been agreed in many areas, including with respect to the cap-setting (an EU-wide cap instead of the national caps in phases 1 and 2) and the rules for transitional free allocation.
The fairness of the system has been substantially increased by the move towards EU-wide free allocation rules for industrial installations and by the introduction of a redistribution mechanism that entitles new Member States to auction more allowances.
How does the final text compare to the initial Commission proposal?
The climate and energy targets agreed by the 2007 Spring European Council have been maintained and the overall architecture of the Commission's proposal on the EU ETS remains intact. That is to say that there will be one EU-wide cap on the number of emission allowances and this cap will decrease annually along a linear trend line, which will continue beyond the end of the third trading period (2018-2020). The main difference as compared to the proposal is that auctioning of allowances will be phased in more slowly.
What are the main changes compared to the Commission's proposal?
In summary, the main changes that have been made to the proposal are as follows:
Certain Member States are allowed an optional and temporary derogation from the rule that no allowances are to be allocated free of charge to electricity generators as of 2018. This option to derogate is available to Member States which fulfil certain conditions related to the interconnectivity of their electricity grid, share of a single fossil fuel in electricity production, and GDP/capita in relation to the EU-27 average. In addition, the amount of free allowances that a Member State can allocate to power plants is limited to 70% of carbon dioxide emissions of relevant plants in phase 1 and declines in the years thereafter. Furthermore free allocation in phase 3 can only be given to power plants that are operational or under construction no later than end 2008. See reply to question 15 below. There will be more details in the Directive on the criteria to be used to determine the sectors or sub-sectors deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage , and an earlier date of publication of the Commission's list of such sectors (31 December 2009). Moreover, subject to review when a satisfactory international agreement is reached, installations in all exposed industries will receive 100% free allowances to the extent that they use the most efficient technology. The free allocation to industry is limited to the share of these industries' emissions in total emissions in 2005 to 2007. The total number of allowances allocated for free to installations in industry sectors will decline annually in line with the decline of the emissions cap. Member States may also compensate certain installations for CO 2 costs passed on in electricity prices if the CO 2 costs might otherwise expose them to the risk of carbon leakage. The Commission has undertaken to modify the Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection in this respect. See reply to question 15 below. The level of auctioning of allowances for non-exposed industry will increase in a linear manner as proposed by the Commission, but rather than reaching 100% by 2020 it will reach 70%, with a view to reaching 100% by 2027. As foreseen in the Commission's proposal, 10% of the allowances for auctioning will be redistributed from Member States with high per capita income to those with low per capita income in order to strengthen the financial capacity of the latter to invest in climate friendly technologies. A provision has been added for another redistributive mechanism of 2% of auctioned allowances to take into account Member States which in 2005 had achieved a reduction of at least 20% in greenhouse gas emissions compared with the reference year set by the Kyoto Protocol. The share of auctioning revenues that Member States are recommended to use to fight and adapt to climate change mainly within the EU, but also in developing countries, is raised from 20% to 50%. The text provides for a top-up to the proposed permitted level of use of JI/CDM credits in the 20% scenario for existing operators that received the lowest budgets to import and use such credits in relation to allocations and access to credits in the period 2008-2018. New sectors, new entrants in the periods 2018-2020 and 2008-2018 will also be able to use credits. The total amount of credits that may be used will, however, not exceed 50% of the reduction between 2008 and 2020. Based on a stricter emissions reduction in the context of a satisfactory international agreement, the Commission could allow additional access to CERs and ERUs for operators in the Community scheme. See reply to question 20 below. The proceeds from auctioning 300 million allowances from the new entrants reserve will be used to support up to 12 carbon capture and storage demonstration projects and projects demonstrating innovative renewable energy technologies. A number of conditions are attached to this financing mechanism. See reply to question 30 below. The possibility to opt-out small combustion installations provided they are subject to equivalent measures has been extended to cover all small installations irrespective of activity, the emission threshold has been raised from 10,000 to 25,000 tonnes of CO 2 per year, and the capacity threshold that combustion installations have to fulfil in addition has been raised from 25MW to 35MW. With these increased thresholds, the share of covered emissions that would potentially be excluded from the emissions trading system becomes significant, and consequently a provision has been added to allow for a corresponding reduction of the EU-wide cap on allowances.
Will there still be national allocation plans (NAPs)?
No. In their NAPs for the first (2005-2007) and the second (2008-2018) trading periods, Member States determined the total quantity of allowances to be issued – the cap – and how these would be allocated to the installations concerned. This approach has generated significant differences in allocation rules, creating an incentive for each Member State to favour its own industry, and has led to great complexity.
As from the third trading period, there will be a single EU-wide cap and allowances will be allocated on the basis of harmonised rules. National allocation plans will therefore not be needed any more.
How will the emission cap in phase 3 be determined?
The rules for calculating the EU-wide cap are as follows:
From 2018, the total number of allowances will decrease annually in a linear manner. The starting point of this line is the average total quantity of allowances (phase 2 cap) to be issued by Member States for the 2008-12 period, adjusted to reflect the broadened scope of the system from 2018 as well as any small installations that Member States have chosen to exclude. The linear factor by which the annual amount shall decrease is 1.74% in relation to the phase 2 cap.
The starting point for determining the linear factor of 1.74% is the 20% overall reduction of greenhouse gases compared to 1990, which is equivalent to a 14% reduction compared to 2005. However, a larger reduction is required of the EU ETS because it is cheaper to reduce emissions in the ETS sectors. The division that minimises overall reduction cost amounts to:
a 21% reduction in EU ETS sector emissions compared to 2005 by 2020; a reduction of around 10% compared to 2005 for the sectors that are not covered by the EU ETS.
The 21% reduction in 2020 results in an ETS cap in 2020 of a maximum of 1720 million allowances and implies an average phase 3 cap (2018 to 2020) of some 1846 million allowances and a reduction of 11% compared to the phase 2 cap.
All absolute figures indicated correspond to the coverage at the start of the second trading period and therefore don't take account of aviation, which will be added in 2018, and other sectors that will be added in phase 3.
The final figures for the annual emission caps in phase 3 will be determined and published by the Commission by 30 September 2018.
How will the emission cap beyond phase 3 be determined?
The linear factor of 1.74% used to determine the phase 3 cap will continue to apply beyond the end of the trading period in 2020 and will determine the cap for the fourth trading period (2021 to 2028) and beyond. It may be revised by 2025 at the latest. In fact, significant emission reductions of 60%-80% compared to 1990 will be necessary by 2050 to reach the strategic objective of limiting the global average temperature increase to not more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
An EU-wide cap on emission allowances will be determined for each individual year. Will this reduce flexibility for the installations concerned?
No, flexibility for installations will not be reduced at all. In any year, the allowances to be auctioned and distributed have to be issued by the competent authorities by 28 February. The last date for operators to surrender allowances is 30 April of the year following the year in which the emissions took place. So operators receive allowances for the current year before they have to surrender allowances to cover their emissions for the previous year. Allowances remain valid throughout the trading period and any surplus allowances can now be "banked" for use in subsequent trading periods. In this respect nothing will change.
The system will remain based on trading periods, but the third trading period will last eight years, from 2018 to 2020, as opposed to five years for the second phase from 2008 to 2018.
For the second trading period Member States generally decided to allocate equal total quantities of allowances for each year. The linear decrease each year from 2018 will correspond better to expected emissions trends over the period.
What are the tentative annual ETS cap figures for the period 2018 to 2020?
The tentative annual cap figures are as follows:
These figures are based on the scope of the ETS as applicable in phase 2 (2008 to 2018), and the Commission's decisions on the national allocation plans for phase 2, amounting to 2083 million tonnes. These figures will be adjusted for several reasons. Firstly, adjustment will be made to take into account the extensions of the scope in phase 2, provided that Member States substantiate and verify their emissions accruing from these extensions. Secondly, adjustment will be made with respect to further extensions of the scope of the ETS in the third trading period. Thirdly, any opt-out of small installations will lead to a corresponding reduction of the cap. Fourthly, the figures do not take account of the inclusion of aviation, nor of emissions from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Will allowances still be allocated for free?
Sim. Industrial installations will receive transitional free allocation. And in those Member States that are eligible for the optional derogation, power plants may, if the Member State so decides, also receive free allowances. It is estimated that at least half of the available allowances as of 2018 will be auctioned.
While the great majority of allowances has been allocated free of charge to installations in the first and second trading periods, the Commission proposed that auctioning of allowances should become the basic principle for allocation. This is because auctioning best ensures the efficiency, transparency and simplicity of the system and creates the greatest incentive for investments in a low-carbon economy. It best complies with the “polluter pays principle” and avoids giving windfall profits to certain sectors that have passed on the notional cost of allowances to their customers despite receiving them for free.
How will allowances be handed out for free?
By 31 December 2018, the Commission will adopt EU-wide rules, which will be developed under a committee procedure (“Comitology”). These rules will fully harmonise allocations and thus all firms across the EU with the same or similar activities will be subject to the same rules. The rules will ensure as far as possible that the allocation promotes carbon-efficient technologies. The adopted rules provide that to the extent feasible, allocations are to be based on so-called benchmarks, e. g. a number of allowances per quantity of historical output. Such rules reward operators that have taken early action to reduce greenhouse gases, better reflect the polluter pays principle and give stronger incentives to reduce emissions, as allocations would no longer depend on historical emissions. All allocations are to be determined before the start of the third trading period and no ex-post adjustments will be allowed.
Which installations will receive free allocations and which will not? How will negative impacts on competitiveness be avoided?
Taking into account their ability to pass on the increased cost of emission allowances, full auctioning is the rule from 2018 onwards for electricity generators. However, Member States who fulfil certain conditions relating to their interconnectivity or their share of fossil fuels in electricity production and GDP per capita in relation to the EU-27 average, have the option to temporarily deviate from this rule with respect to existing power plants. The auctioning rate in 2018 is to be at least 30% in relation to emissions in the first period and has to increase progressively to 100% no later than 2020. If the option is applied, the Member State has to undertake to invest in improving and upgrading of the infrastructure, in clean technologies and in diversification of their energy mix and sources of supply for an amount to the extent possible equal to the market value of the free allocation.
In other sectors, allocations for free will be phased out progressively from 2018, with Member States agreeing to start at 20% auctioning in 2018, increasing to 70% auctioning in 2020 with a view to reaching 100% in 2027. However, an exception will be made for installations in sectors that are found to be exposed to a significant risk of 'carbon leakage'. This risk could occur if the EU ETS increased production costs so much that companies decided to relocate production to areas outside the EU that are not subject to comparable emission constraints. The Commission will determine the sectors concerned by 31 December 2009. To do this, the Commission will assess inter alia whether the direct and indirect additional production costs induced by the implementation of the ETS Directive as a proportion of gross value added exceed 5% and whether the total value of its exports and imports divided by the total value of its turnover and imports exceeds 10%. If the result for either of these criteria exceeds 30%, the sector would also be considered to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage. Installations in these sectors would receive 100% of their share in the annually declining total quantity of allowances for free. The share of these industries' emissions is determined in relation to total ETS emissions in 2005 to 2007.
CO 2 costs passed on in electricity prices could also expose certain installations to the risk of carbon leakage. In order to avoid such risk, Member States may grant a compensation with respect to such costs. In the absence of an international agreement on climate change, the Commission has undertaken to modify the Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection in this respect.
Under an international agreement which ensures that competitors in other parts of the world bear a comparable cost, the risk of carbon leakage may well be negligible. Therefore, by 30 June 2018, the Commission will carry out an in-depth assessment of the situation of energy-intensive industry and the risk of carbon leakage, in the light of the outcome of the international negotiations and also taking into account any binding sectoral agreements that may have been concluded. The report will be accompanied by any proposals considered appropriate. These could potentially include maintaining or adjusting the proportion of allowances received free of charge to industrial installations that are particularly exposed to global competition or including importers of the products concerned in the ETS.
Who will organise the auctions and how will they be carried out?
Member States will be responsible for ensuring that the allowances given to them are auctioned. Each Member State has to decide whether it wants to develop its own auctioning infrastructure and platform or whether it wants to cooperate with other Member States to develop regional or EU-wide solutions. The distribution of the auctioning rights to Member States is largely based on emissions in phase 1 of the EU ETS, but a part of the rights will be redistributed from richer Member States to poorer ones to take account of the lower GDP per head and higher prospects for growth and emissions among the latter. It is still the case that 10% of the rights to auction allowances will be redistributed from Member States with high per capita income to those with low per capita income in order to strengthen the financial capacity of the latter to invest in climate friendly technologies. However, a provision has been added for another redistributive mechanism of 2% to take into account Member States which in 2005 had achieved a reduction of at least 20% in greenhouse gas emissions compared with the reference year set by the Kyoto Protocol. Nine Member States benefit from this provision.
Any auctioning must respect the rules of the internal market and must therefore be open to any potential buyer under non-discriminatory conditions. By 30 June 2018, the Commission will adopt a Regulation (through the comitology procedure) that will provide the appropriate rules and conditions for ensuring efficient, coordinated auctions without disturbing the allowance market.
How many allowances will each Member State auction and how is this amount determined?
All allowances which are not allocated free of charge will be auctioned. A total of 88% of allowances to be auctioned by each Member State is distributed on the basis of the Member State's share of historic emissions under the EU ETS. For purposes of solidarity and growth, 12% of the total quantity is distributed in a way that takes into account GDP per capita and the achievements under the Kyoto-Protocol.
Which sectors and gases are covered as of 2018?
The ETS covers installations performing specified activities. Since the start it has covered, above certain capacity thresholds, power stations and other combustion plants, oil refineries, coke ovens, iron and steel plants and factories making cement, glass, lime, bricks, ceramics, pulp, paper and board. As for greenhouse gases, it currently only covers carbon dioxide emissions, with the exception of the Netherlands, which has opted in emissions from nitrous oxide.
As from 2018, the scope of the ETS will be extended to also include other sectors and greenhouse gases. CO 2 emissions from petrochemicals, ammonia and aluminium will be included, as will N2O emissions from the production of nitric, adipic and glyocalic acid production and perfluorocarbons from the aluminium sector. The capture, transport and geological storage of all greenhouse gas emissions will also be covered. These sectors will receive allowances free of charge according to EU-wide rules, in the same way as other industrial sectors already covered.
As of 2018, aviation will also be included in the EU ETS.
Will small installations be excluded from the scope?
A large number of installations emitting relatively low amounts of CO 2 are currently covered by the ETS and concerns have been raised over the cost-effectiveness of their inclusion. As from 2018, Member States will be allowed to remove these installations from the ETS under certain conditions. The installations concerned are those whose reported emissions were lower than 25 000 tonnes of CO 2 equivalent in each of the 3 years preceding the year of application. For combustion installations, an additional capacity threshold of 35MW applies. In addition Member States are given the possibility to exclude installations operated by hospitals. The installations may be excluded from the ETS only if they will be covered by measures that will achieve an equivalent contribution to emission reductions.
How many emission credits from third countries will be allowed?
For the second trading period, Member States allowed their operators to use significant quantities of credits generated by emission-saving projects undertaken in third countries to cover part of their emissions in the same way as they use ETS allowances. The revised Directive extends the rights to use these credits for the third trading period and allows a limited additional quantity to be used in such a way that the overall use of credits is limited to 50% of the EU-wide reductions over the period 2008-2020. For existing installations, and excluding new sectors within the scope, this will represent a total level of access of approximately 1.6 billion credits over the period 2008-2020. In practice, this means that existing operators will be able to use credits up to a minimum of 11% of their allocation during the period 2008-2018, while a top-up is foreseen for operators with the lowest sum of free allocation and allowed use of credits in the 2008-2018 period. New sectors and new entrants in the third trading period will have a guaranteed minimum access of 4.5% of their verified emissions during the period 2018-2020. For the aviation sector, the minimum access will be 1.5%. The precise percentages will be determined through comitology.
These projects must be officially recognised under the Kyoto Protocol’s Joint Implementation (JI) mechanism (covering projects carried out in countries with an emissions reduction target under the Protocol) or Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (for projects undertaken in developing countries). Credits from JI projects are known as Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) while those from CDM projects are called Certified Emission Reductions (CERs).
On the quality side only credits from project types eligible for use in the EU trading scheme during the period 2008-2018 will be accepted in the period 2018-2020. Furthermore, from 1 January 2018 measures may be applied to restrict the use of specific credits from project types. Such a quality control mechanism is needed to assure the environmental and economic integrity of future project types.
To create greater flexibility, and in the absence of an international agreement being concluded by 31 December 2009, credits could be used in accordance with agreements concluded with third countries. The use of these credits should however not increase the overall number beyond 50% of the required reductions. Such agreements would not be required for new projects that started from 2018 onwards in Least Developed Countries.
Based on a stricter emissions reduction in the context of a satisfactory international agreement , additional access to credits could be allowed, as well as the use of additional types of project credits or other mechanisms created under the international agreement. However, once an international agreement has been reached, from January 2018 onwards only credits from projects in third countries that have ratified the agreement or from additional types of project approved by the Commission will be eligible for use in the Community scheme.
Will it be possible to use credits from carbon ‘sinks’ like forests?
No. Before making its proposal, the Commission analysed the possibility of allowing credits from certain types of land use, land-use change and forestry (‘LULUCF’) projects which absorb carbon from the atmosphere. It concluded that doing so could undermine the environmental integrity of the EU ETS, for the following reasons:
LULUCF projects cannot physically deliver permanent emissions reductions. Insufficient solutions have been developed to deal with the uncertainties, non-permanence of carbon storage and potential emissions 'leakage' problems arising from such projects. The temporary and reversible nature of such activities would pose considerable risks in a company-based trading system and impose great liability risks on Member States. The inclusion of LULUCF projects in the ETS would require a quality of monitoring and reporting comparable to the monitoring and reporting of emissions from installations currently covered by the system. This is not available at present and is likely to incur costs which would substantially reduce the attractiveness of including such projects. The simplicity, transparency and predictability of the ETS would be considerably reduced. Moreover, the sheer quantity of potential credits entering the system could undermine the functioning of the carbon market unless their role were limited, in which case their potential benefits would become marginal.
The Commission, the Council and the European Parliament believe that global deforestation can be better addressed through other instruments. For example, using part of the proceeds from auctioning allowances in the EU ETS could generate additional means to invest in LULUCF activities both inside and outside the EU, and may provide a model for future expansion. In this respect the Commission has proposed to set up the Global Forest Carbon Mechanism that would be a performance-based system for financing reductions in deforestation levels in developing countries.
Besides those already mentioned, are there other credits that could be used in the revised ETS?
Sim. Projects in EU Member States which reduce greenhouse gas emissions not covered by the ETS could issue credits. These Community projects would need to be managed according to common EU provisions set up by the Commission in order to be tradable throughout the system. Such provisions would be adopted only for projects that cannot be realised through inclusion in the ETS. The provisions will seek to ensure that credits from Community projects do not result in double-counting of emission reductions nor impede other policy measures to reduce emissions not covered by the ETS, and that they are based on simple, easily administered rules.
Are there measures in place to ensure that the price of allowances won't fall sharply during the third trading period?
A stable and predictable regulatory framework is vital for market stability. The revised Directive makes the regulatory framework as predictable as possible in order to boost stability and rule out policy-induced volatility. Important elements in this respect are the determination of the cap on emissions in the Directive well in advance of the start of the trading period, a linear reduction factor for the cap on emissions which continues to apply also beyond 2020 and the extension of the trading period from 5 to 8 years. The sharp fall in the allowance price during the first trading period was due to over-allocation of allowances which could not be “banked” for use in the second trading period. For the second and subsequent trading periods, Member States are obliged to allow the banking of allowances from one period to the next and therefore the end of one trading period is not expected to have any impact on the price.
A new provision will apply as of 2018 in case of excessive price fluctuations in the allowance market. If, for more than six consecutive months, the allowance price is more than three times the average price of allowances during the two preceding years on the European market, the Commission will convene a meeting with Member States. If it is found that the price evolution does not correspond to market fundamentals, the Commission may either allow Member States to bring forward the auctioning of a part of the quantity to be auctioned, or allow them to auction up to 25% of the remaining allowances in the new entrant reserve.
The price of allowances is determined by supply and demand and reflects fundamental factors like economic growth, fuel prices, rainfall and wind (availability of renewable energy) and temperature (demand for heating and cooling) etc. A degree of uncertainty is inevitable for such factors. The markets, however, allow participants to hedge the risks that may result from changes in allowances prices.
Are there any provisions for linking the EU ETS to other emissions trading systems?
Sim. One of the key means to reduce emissions more cost-effectively is to enhance and further develop the global carbon market. The Commission sees the EU ETS as an important building block for the development of a global network of emission trading systems. Linking other national or regional cap-and-trade emissions trading systems to the EU ETS can create a bigger market, potentially lowering the aggregate cost of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The increased liquidity and reduced price volatility that this would entail would improve the functioning of markets for emission allowances. This may lead to a global network of trading systems in which participants, including legal entities, can buy emission allowances to fulfil their respective reduction commitments.
The EU is keen to work with the new US Administration to build a transatlantic and indeed global carbon market to act as the motor of a concerted international push to combat climate change.
While the original Directive allows for linking the EU ETS with other industrialised countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, the new rules allow for linking with any country or administrative entity (such as a state or group of states under a federal system) which has established a compatible mandatory cap-and-trade system whose design elements would not undermine the environmental integrity of the EU ETS. Where such systems cap absolute emissions, there would be mutual recognition of allowances issued by them and the EU ETS.
What is a Community registry and how does it work?
Registries are standardised electronic databases ensuring the accurate accounting of the issuance, holding, transfer and cancellation of emission allowances. As a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol in its own right, the Community is also obliged to maintain a registry. This is the Community Registry, which is distinct from the registries of Member States. Allowances issued from 1 January 2018 onwards will be held in the Community registry instead of in national registries.
Will there be any changes to monitoring, reporting and verification requirements?
The Commission will adopt a new Regulation (through the comitology procedure) by 31 December 2018 governing the monitoring and reporting of emissions from the activities listed in Annex I of the Directive. A separate Regulation on the verification of emission reports and the accreditation of verifiers should specify conditions for accreditation, mutual recognition and cancellation of accreditation for verifiers, and for supervision and peer review as appropriate.
What provision will be made for new entrants into the market?
Five percent of the total quantity of allowances will be put into a reserve for new installations or airlines that enter the system after 2018 (“new entrants”). The allocations from this reserve should mirror the allocations to corresponding existing installations.
A part of the new entrant reserve, amounting to 300 million allowances, will be made available to support the investments in up to 12 demonstration projects using the carbon capture and storage technology and demonstration projects using innovative renewable energy technologies. There should be a fair geographical distribution of the projects.
In principle, any allowances remaining in the reserve shall be distributed to Member States for auctioning. The distribution key shall take into account the level to which installations in Member States have benefited from this reserve.
What has been agreed with respect to the financing of the 12 carbon capture and storage demonstration projects requested by a previous European Council?
The European Parliament's Environment Committee tabled an amendment to the EU ETS Directive requiring allowances in the new entrant reserve to be set aside in order to co-finance up to 12 demonstration projects as requested by the European Council in spring 2007. This amendment has later been extended to include also innovative renewable energy technologies that are not commercially viable yet. Projects shall be selected on the basis of objective and transparent criteria that include requirements for knowledge sharing. Support shall be given from the proceeds of these allowances via Member States and shall be complementary to substantial co-financing by the operator of the installation. No project shall receive support via this mechanism that exceeds 15% of the total number of allowances (i. e. 45 million allowances) available for this purpose. The Member State may choose to co-finance the project as well, but will in any case transfer the market value of the attributed allowances to the operator, who will not receive any allowances.
A total of 300 million allowances will therefore be set aside until 2018 for this purpose.
What is the role of an international agreement and its potential impact on EU ETS?
When an international agreement is reached, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council assessing the nature of the measures agreed upon in the international agreement and their implications, in particular with respect to the risk of carbon leakage. On the basis of this report, the Commission shall then adopt a legislative proposal amending the present Directive as appropriate.
For the effects on the use of credits from Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism projects, please see the reply to question 20.
Quais são os próximos passos?
Member States have to bring into force the legal instruments necessary to comply with certain provisions of the revised Directive by 31 December 2009. This concerns the collection of duly substantiated and verified emissions data from installations that will only be covered by the EU ETS as from 2018, and the national lists of installations and the allocation to each one. For the remaining provisions, the national laws, regulations and administrative provisions only have to be ready by 31 December 2018.
The Commission has already started the work on implementation. For example, the collection and analysis of data for use in relation to carbon leakage is ongoing (list of sectors due end 2009). Work is also ongoing to prepare the Regulation on timing, administration and other aspects of auctioning (due by June 2018), the harmonised allocation rules (due end 2018) and the two Regulations on monitoring and reporting of emissions and verification of emissions and accreditation of verifiers (due end 2018).
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