The Impacts of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme on Competitiveness in Europe

The Impacts of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme on Competitiveness in Europe
Author: Klaus Rennings
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

This literature review analyses the impacts of the EU ETS on competitiveness focussing on existing simulation studies. We have identified the choice of the reference scenario as the most critical issue for an appropriate analysis of the relevant literature. We find, however, that effects of the scheme on competitiveness are modest, even given the business as usual case that does not take the legally binding framework of the Kyoto Protocol into account. Furthermore, the impacts of the EU ETS are smaller than the impacts of alternative Kyoto-based regulation scenarios. Compared to these other regulation methods ETSs can have positive competitiveness effects. However, the EU ETS is not designed to boost Europe's economy. Its prime purpose and justification is to ensure that Europe's CO2 emissions are brought down and Kyoto targets are reached at minimal costs. To our opinion, it is therefore important that the system as well as modifications to it do not undermine the environmental goals associated with this policy instrument.

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.

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.

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 Scheme

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Author: Sonja Butzengeiger
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 146
Release: 2018-12-07
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1134034741

This special issue of the Climate Policy journal outlines the fundamentals of the new European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), assesses the strategies for and impact of implementation and highlights the scheme's potential, including positive aspects and remaining hurdles. The EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is the first international trading scheme for CO2 in the world. Its aim is to reduce the cost of compliance to existing targets under the Kyoto Protocol. From 1st January 2005, companies in high-energy sectors covered by the scheme must limit their CO2 emissions to allocated levels, arranged in two periods: from 2005-2007 and 2008-2012 (to match the first Kyoto commitment period). In practice, the scheme is likely to cover over 12,000 installations across the European Union, corresponding to approximately 46% of the total EU CO2 emissions. The EU ETS represents a significant development in working at an international level to combat dangerous climate change. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme presents a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the EU ETS, written by international experts in the field. The publication includes the latest research on emissions credits, the interaction of the trading scheme with national energy policies and the debate on future expansion.

Why Does Emissions Trading Under the EU Ets Not Affect Firms' Competitiveness? Empirical Findings from the Literature

Why Does Emissions Trading Under the EU Ets Not Affect Firms' Competitiveness? Empirical Findings from the Literature
Author: Eugénie Joltreau
Publisher:
Total Pages: 26
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN:

Environmental policies may have important consequences for firms' competitiveness or profit-ability. However, the empirical literature shows that hardly any statistically significant effects on firms can be detected for the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). We explain why there are arguably no significant competitiveness effects on firms, at least not during the first two phases of the scheme (2005-2012). We also reason why the third phase (2013-2020) is likely to reveal similar results. We show that the main explanations for this finding are a large over-allocation of emissions allowances leading to a price drop and the ability of firms to pass costs onto consumers in some sectors. Cost pass-through combined with free allocation, in turn, partly generated windfall profits. In addition, the relatively low importance of energy costs indicated by their average share in the budgets of most manufacturing industries may limit the impact of the EU ETS. Finally, small but significant stimulating effects on innovation have been found so far.

Firm Competitiveness and the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme

Firm Competitiveness and the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme
Author: Hei Sing Chan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:

The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme is the first international cap-and-trade program for carbon dioxide and the largest carbon pricing regime in the world. A significant concern over the Emissions Trading Scheme has been the potential impact on the competitiveness of industry. Using data on 5,873 firms in ten European countries during 2001-2009, this paper assesses the impact on three variables through which the effects on firm competitiveness may manifest -- unit material costs, employment and revenue. The analysis focuses on the three most heavily-emitting industries under the program -- power, cement, and iron and steel. Empirical results indicate that the Emissions Trading Scheme has had different impacts across these three sectors. Although no impacts are found on any of the three variables in the cement and iron and steel industries, a positive effect is found on both material costs and revenue in the power sector. The effect on material costs likely reflects fuel-switching to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, while that on revenue may be partly due to cost pass-through to consumers in a market that is less exposed to competition outside the Europen Union. Overall the findings do not substantiate concerns over carbon leakage, job loss or industry competitiveness during the study period.