Die EU legt mithilfe des europäischen Emissionshandels die Menge an CO2 fest, die maximal ausgestoßen werden darf. Für jede Tonne CO2, die sie ausstoßen, müssen Stromerzeuger und energieintensive Industrien ein Zertifikat kaufen.
The transportation sector faces special challenges in the process of decarbonisation, since the need for mobility – both for people and goods – is rapidly increasing around the world, especially in the emerging economies. Because of road traffic’s key position in mobility, the future CO2 regulation of cars and trucks will play a substantial role in climate policy.
How does sustainability feature in international trade agreements? What regulatory frameworks are in place today? And how do countries and companies comply? Those where some questions addressed in a workshop jointly organized by the German Economic Institute (IW) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Regional Project Energy Security and Climate Change (RECAP) and Multinational Development Policy Dialogue (MNED) in Brussels on 1st February.
Increasingly stringent energy consumption targets for the year 2030 flanked by national energy efficiency targets are about to being agreed at the EU level. A study by the German Economic Institute (IW) shows that these targets when applied to ETS-sectors, conflict with the overall aim of a cost-efficient decarbonization.
The worldwide rise in temperatures can only be limited if China and other Asian countries also reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. An interactive chart by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research shows the continent’s growing significance for international climate policy.
The European Parliament is set to reduce the amount of available CO2 certificates more than originally foreseen. Industry shall be incentivised to invest increasingly in new, low-carbon technologies. For national governments – and in particular the German government – this should be taken as a signal to restrain itself from additional national plans.
The election of Donald Trump as the next US president puts the international progress on global climate protection in danger. Trump already announced his plans to withdraw the US’ support and acceptance of the Paris Agreement. Thus, one of the largest emitters of CO2 would no longer be part of the fight against climate change. For companies producing in Europe, with its climate protection requirements this would lead to competitive disadvantages.
Recycling, recovering, reusing – the European Commission wants member countries to accumulate less waste, and thus plans to tighten its recycling targets. This move would have repercussions for all member states – including the European champion of recycling, Germany – according to a study carried out by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln). After all, no EU country would meet the proposed target right off.
On Friday (April 22), the German Minister for the Environment Barbara Hendricks and many of her colleagues met in New York to sign the first global climate agreement. While this might act as a positive signal for the global climate, clear political action is needed: The major CO2 emitters should agree on a joint action plan to effectively reduce emissions.
Economist
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Economist for Umwelt
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Head of the Research Unit Environment, Energy, Infrastructure
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Mailthilo.schaefer@iwkoeln.de
