The Impact of the EU Emissions Trading System on Competitiveness and Carbon Leakage

The Impact of the EU Emissions Trading System on Competitiveness and Carbon Leakage
Author: Stefano F. Verde
Publisher:
Total Pages: 26
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN:

Concerns about the potential negative effects on domestic firms' international competitiveness and ensuing carbon leakage are the main obstacle to the unilateral use of carbon pricing for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2005, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has put a price on about half of the EU's overall emissions and presently remains the largest cap-and-trade scheme in the world. Monitoring the competitiveness effects of the EU ETS is vital for evaluating the cost effectiveness of the policy instrument and for amending it if needed. This paper surveys the econometric literature that tests for the occurrence of competitiveness effects and carbon leakage under the EU ETS. Emphasised is the specific or more general relevance of estimation results for sectors, countries and years. Organised in this way, the empirical evidence may better inform policy. The review also covers several studies analysing the competitiveness effects of the EU ETS through the lens of stock markets. By far, the most frequently encountered conclusion is that no evidence was found of negative statistically significant effects on firms' competitiveness (nor, therefore, of carbon leakage). Among the few adverse effects, those concerning increased FDI activity in certain regulated sectors deserve special consideration.

The Revision of the EU's Emission Trading System

The Revision of the EU's Emission Trading System
Author: U K Stationery Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 254
Release: 2008-12
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780104014080

Both the UK and the EU have pinned much of their climate change policy on the effective opeation of the EU emissions trading system (ETS). Now in its second year the scheme has yet to demonstate that it can deliver the substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions that will form the yardstick of its success. This report examines the proposed revisions to the ETS, which would take effect in the scheme's third trading period, scheduled to last from 2013 to 2020. It is ultimately felt that if the ETS is to live up to its full potential, the aim must be to link it up with emissions trading schemes in other parts of the world so as to make the most of emission reduction opportunities in additional countries and sectors. However, the establishment of such links could prove arduous. It is anticipated that the EU may eventually face stark trade-offs between maintaining the environmental integrity of the ETS and extending its reach.

Including Consumption in Emissions Trading

Including Consumption in Emissions Trading
Author: Manuel W. Haussner
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2021-03-26
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1800376855

This timely book addresses the need for further measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union, arguing that the EU Emissions Trading Scheme does not offer sufficient incentives for the carbon-intensive materials sector. It highlights the challenge that emissions from industries such as iron and steel, cement and aluminium, amongst others, pose to the EU’s commitment to significantly cut emissions by 2030.

Emissions Trading and Competitiveness

Emissions Trading and Competitiveness
Author: Michael Grubb
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 158
Release: 2012-05-04
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 113656750X

Complying with the forthcoming tightening of CO2 emission allocations in the EU may mean big bills for the industries affected. In this special issue of Climate Policy journal, leading experts examine the impacts on competitiveness and the commercial incentives available from the CO2 allowance allocations under the methodologies, and whether - and if so at what stage - the ETS itself may need to be amended. The study is multidisciplinary, combining economic, legal and policy analysis with specific studies of impacts on electricity, cement and other industrial sectors and the allocation issues. It brings together the results of research conducted over the past two year from various research centres and consultancies in Europe, and in particular, work commissioned by the Carbon Trust and Climate Strategies Network. Through these, it presents the most comprehensive and detailed set of analyses yet conducted of the impacts of allocation on competitiveness - one of the most critical issues for the sectors affected and for the operation of the ETS.

Corporate Responses to EU Emissions Trading

Corporate Responses to EU Emissions Trading
Author: Jon Birger Skjærseth
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 302
Release: 2016-05-13
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 131715942X

The European Union (EU) aims to put Europe on track toward a low-carbon economy. In this striking challenge, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has been singled out as the Union’s key climate policy instrument, ultimately aimed as a model for a global carbon market. The learning effect of the EU ETS could thus be tremendous. This study explores how the EU ETS actually works on the ground, affecting corporate climate strategies. It covers general sector responses as well as systematic comparative studies of companies across the sectors. The latter enables improved understanding of causal effects and the role of interaction between different policy instruments and other factors that impact corporate climate strategies. The study explores a broad set of mechanisms at play potentially linking the EU ETS to company climate strategies. These include how corporate norms of responsibility are affected by the EU ETS and how economic incentives provide opportunities for innovation. The book’s main contribution lies in its systematic examination of corporate responses to the EU ETS from a broad empirical and analytical social science perspective covering companies in all main EU ETS sectors: electric power, oil, cement, steel and pulp and paper.

Pricing Carbon

Pricing Carbon
Author: A. Denny Ellerman
Publisher:
Total Pages: 392
Release: 2014-05-14
Genre: Carbon offsetting
ISBN: 9781139042017

The first detailed description and analysis of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.

The EU emissions trading system

The EU emissions trading system
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Energy and Climate Change Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 166
Release: 2012-01-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780215040725

The Government's decision to set a unilateral Carbon Price Floor could have a "devastating effect" on UK industry and will artificially raise electricity prices for consumers, while having no overall impact on emissions. Unless the price of carbon is increased at an EU-wide level, taking action on our own will have no overall effect on emissions other than to out-source them. Energy generators and heavy industry could be subject to an 'exorbitant' top-up tax of up to £25 per tonne of CO2 under current plans, because the price of carbon in the rest of the EU is so low. Electricity prices will increase as the price floor keeps the cost of carbon higher than in other countries, effectively subsidising other Member States at the expense of the UK consumer and resulting in "carbon leakage". DECC expects there to be as much as 10 GW of interconnection with other countries by 2020, some 10% of installed capacity. This makes electricity generation more susceptible to leakage than other sectors, such as goods manufacture, which may be restricted by the difficulties of relocating production. The report recommends that the: overall EU ETS cap should be toughened to deliver a 30% emissions reduction target by 2020; the annual reduction rate for the EU ETS cap must also be adjusted to set out a long-term emissions trajectory that will deliver a 60-80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; the EU should set aside a significant number of EU Allowances and Members States should support this move as a necessary short-term fix

Emissions Trading & Competitiveness

Emissions Trading & Competitiveness
Author: Michael Grubb
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 159
Release: 2006
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 184407403X

First Published in 2006. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Climate Change and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

Climate Change and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
Author: Larry Parker
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 22
Release: 2011
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1437929354

This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. The European Union¿s (EU) ETS is a cornerstone of the EU¿s efforts to meet its obligation under the Kyoto Protocol. It covers more than 10,000 energy intensive facilities across the 27 EU Member countries. A ¿Phase 1¿ trading period began 1/1/05. A second, Phase 2, trading period began in 2008. A Phase 3 will begin in 2013 designed to reduce emissions by 21% from 2005 levels. Contents of this report: (1) Overview; (2) Results from Phase 1 and 2; (3) Phase 3: Auctions; New Entrant Reserves; Decision on Eligible Industries; Flexibility Mechanisms and Price Volatility Control; Expanding Coverage; (4) U.S. Cap-and-Trade Proposals: Emission Inventories and Target Setting; Coverage; Allocation Schemes; Flexibility and Price Volatility. Illustrations.