1 March 2017
Member States agree on general approach on post-2020 ETS reform
The Environment Council has agreed a general approach on reforming the Emissions Trading System after 2020.
Member States proposed to strengthen the Market Stability Reserve, a facility designed to take excess carbon permits out of the market from 2019 onwards. The rate at which it will take permits out of the market would be doubled. And permits stored in the reserve would be cancelled if a certain threshold is reached.
The linear reduction factor will remain at 2.2%, up from 1.74% today, in line with the Commission’s original proposal.
Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope, said: “It is good to see that Member States have come to a general approach on the reforms to the ETS after lengthy negotiations. The ETS has not delivered on decarbonising Europe’s energy systems. And it has polarised opinion at EU and national level for years. By going beyond the original Commission proposal, the Council and the Parliament have a chance to implement real reform that will help put a meaningful price on carbon. It’s important that the good work is not undone as negotiations progress.”
He added: “Overcapacity is one of the biggest challenges facing the energy transition in Europe. The ETS must play an important role in phasing out ageing fossil fuel plants. The Council’s proposals are an important step forward. But it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to drive polluting assets out of the market.”
