Greenhouse gas emissions from industrial installations covered by the EU’s emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) will be capped at just under 1.927 billion allowances for 2013, the European Commission said on Friday (9 July).
The Commission’s decision determines the maximum amount of emissions from around 11,000 industrial installations and power plants regulated by the EU ETS in 2013. The companies will have to surrender an allowance for each tonne of carbon they emit.
In the course of the third trading phase, which runs from 2013 to 2020, the cap will be lowered annually by 1.74%, taking as a basis the average cap in the second trading phase (2008-2012). This amounts to a reduction of around 35,374,181 allowances per year, the EU executive calculated.
The Commission said, however, that it would revise the cap in September to take into account the extension of the scheme’s scope post-2012. At present, it does not account for new sectors such as aluminium or gases like nitrous oxide, for instance.
Further adjustments will be made later if new entrants join the market or if emissions-reduction projects planned under the Kyoto Protocol fail to produce credits for companies to offset their emissions with, according to the Commission.
“Final figures for the 2013 cap may thus not be available before 2013,” the EU executive said. It will update the figures in 2011 or later to keep the public informed, but expects only marginal changes, it added.
Moreover, the cap would be further shrunk if the EU decides to increase its emissions reduction target to 30% below 1990 levels by 2020, as it has promised to do should other industrialised countries make similar commitments during UN negotiations on a new climate treaty, the Commission said.
The decision taken now is based on the EU’s current legal obligation to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. This will translate into emission reductions from ETS installations of 21% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels, according to the directive revising the scheme.
The revision of the EU ETS in 2008 sought to tighten the cap for the post-2012 period after overly generous allocation had brought down allowance prices and left companies with windfall profits.
The recession has further contributed to the excessive number of permits by bringing down industrial production, leading to concerns that if banked into the next trading phase, these unused allowances will continue to suppress prices even after the economy has picked up.
Bron: euractiv.com
Published: 01 July 2010
The vast majority of EU member states will deliver their national renewable energy action plans (NREAPs) late as only two had landed on the European Commission’s desk by midday yesterday (30 June), the day of the deadline.
“So far we’ve only had track of two,” said Philip Lowe, director-general for energy at the European Commission. He was speaking at an event in Brussels on the day by which EU member states had to submit by midnight their action plans outlining the specific actions they intend to take to meet their targets.
The national targets were set under the EU’s Renewables Directive, which requires the EU as a whole to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix to 20% by 2020.
The two countries which had handed their plans to the EU executive were the Netherlands and Denmark, the energy department chief said.
Lees hele artikel – > euractiv.com
Het bovenstaande videofragment van de als groen bekende staande Duitse TV-zender ZDF komt terug op een studie van vooraanstaande Duitse economen over het Europese klimaatbeleid in opdracht van het Finanzministerium. De resultaten daarvan waren zo schokkend, dat de link naar het document ijlings van de website van het ministerie werd verwijderd. Het document staat er nog wel: zie hier.
Neanderthaler De vanuit Duitsland Engelstalig bloggende P Gosselin viste de uitzending op van een korte post van Hans von Storch op Die Klimazwiebel. Hij geeft een Engelstalig transcript van de uitzending en een erg fraaie uitsmijter: “waneer zullen wij net zo slim worden als de Neaderthaler en kiezen voor adaptatie?”. De spreker in het video-item is de econoom Prof. Dr. Kai Konrad van het Max Planck Instituut in München. De uitzending sluit mooi aan bij de tegenstrijdige berichten uit Brussel momenteel rondom de invoering van een CO2-belasting: op 25 juni lezen we dat de commissie het plan op de lange baan heeft geschoven (link). Op 28 juni lezen we dat klimaatcommissaris Connie Hedegaard de Europese Alleingang onverdroten wil voortzetten (link).
We moeten hier bedenken dat de CO2-tax nog bovenop het reeds bestaande maffioze Emission Trading System (ETS) zou komen. Denk er dan nog even de bepleitte Europese bankentaks bij (de US Senate heeft Obama’s bankentax net gekilld) en je weet dat Europa als decadent continent hard opweg is de Untergang des Abendlandes realiteit te maken. Hoera voor de USA, voor China en de rest van de wereld waar nog of weer een VOC-mentaliteit heerst. Of zullen de aan bovenstaande studie gekoppelde nieuwe krachten in Duitsland ons nog tijdig wakker schudden?
In Nederland is het sinds de verkiezingen trouwens stil rondom de kolenwet Duyvendak-Vendrik, waarover ik eerder heb bericht (link). Lees hieronder waarom en hoe dit wetsinitiatief op koud ijs is gesteld….
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6 mei 2010 | FD.nl
Door: Han Dirk Hekking
De Europese industrie heeft vanochtend hard uitgehaald naar eurocommissaris van klimaat Connie Hedegaard. Ze noemt plannen van de Deense bestuurder voor een ambitieuzer CO2-beleid ‘onacceptabel’.
In uitgelekte concept-voorstellen stelt Hedegaard dat het relatief goedkoop is om het Europese doel om in 2020 20% minder broeikasgas (CO2) uit te stoten, te verhogen naar 30% minder.
Brussel berekende eerder dat het doel van -20% euro 70 mrd kost. Hedegaard stelt nu dat de sprong naar -30% relatief niet zo veel meer, namelijk euro 81 mrd, kost.
Geen recht De Europese Alliantie van Energie-intensieve Industrieën stelt in een vanochtend uitgegeven verklaring dat Hedegaards redenering geen recht doet aan de realiteit.
‘De economische neergang heeft het vermogen van de industrie om om te gaan met lastenverzwaring aangetast’, aldus de bedrijven.
Lees hele artikel -> fd.nl
(Reuters) – Germany and Britain have arrested 25 people and are investigating others in connection with suspected tax evasion in carbon permit trading, their respective tax authorities said on Friday.
BUSINESS
Britain’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) told Reuters it had arrested 8 people in Scotland and 13 more in the rest of the UK after a search of 81 businesses and residential premises.
Frankfurt prosecutors made three arrests in Germany and one under a European arrest warrant in Britain, where 50 more individuals were under investigation, said a spokesman for the Frankfurt prosecutors office, which has spearheaded the investigation.
The fraud occurs when companies buy carbon permits in one country without paying value-added tax (VAT) and sell them in another adding tax to the price but pocketing the difference for themselves.
“There have been raids and other measures in Britain, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Cyprus,” the spokesman said.
Lees hele artikel -> uk.reuters.com
03 May 2010
The economic slump has cut the cost of meeting the EU’s current 2020 emission reduction target by nearly a third, making a move to a 30% cut affordable, according to a draft European Commission communication seen by EurActiv.
The cost of cutting emissions by 20% by 2020 has dropped by some €22bn per year from what was estimated in 2008, when climate and energy legislation to reach the target was agreed, the document notes.
It now stands at €48bn per year in 2020, compared to an estimate of €70bn three years ago.
The European Commission is calling for increased ambition in EU climate legislation, without which it warns that Europe risks losing out to the US and China in the race for green jobs.
The Commission notes that the potential of the EU’s flagship climate instrument, the emissions trading scheme (EU ETS), to spur low-carbon investment has been “severely affected for a long time”. It argues that to deliver an allowance price of €30 per tonne of CO2 as originally planned would require a move to 30%.
Lees hele artikel -> euractiv.com
April 23, 2010
CFACT’s response: Let’s not go back to the dark ages.
CFACT has been participating in an energy debate sponsored by the National Journal.
Commissioner Hedegaard wrote:
“Craig Rucker claims that had it not been for Denmark’s oil in the North Sea we could not afford “such feel good luxuries” as renewables like wind. Wrong. Back in 1973 Denmark experienced two oil crises and the last one, when Saudi Arabia cut off oil deliveries, was so bad that it was necessary to prohibit driving private cars on Sundays. I remember this from my childhood. Can you imagine that? That was at a time where we were 99 % dependent on imported energy. Today Denmark is self-sufficient in energy, and has been for many years already. Oil and gas supplies from the North Sea are part of the explanation but definitely also the fact that today around 30 % of Denmark’s electricity stems from wind energy. AND since putting up the first wind turbine back in the mid 70s Denmark has developed a world brand in wind technology. That means not only that the wind sector today creates thousands and thousands of jobs, often mainly in rural areas, but also that is one of our fastest growing export areas, earning billions for Denmark. The sector continued to grow its exports even in the crisis year 2009.”
Here’s Craig Rucker’s response to the Commissioner:
Commissioner Hedegaard reminded us of the restrictions we all faced during the Arab oil embargo of the 1970’s. This is a poignant reminder of the importance of developing our domestic energy resources and those of our allied democracies. Commissioner Hedegaard will surely concede that Denmark’s done quite a bit of offshore drilling during the last three decades and has benefited thereby. The United States should follow that example. Denmark’s foot prints are not always ones, however, we can recommend others follow. Danish workers carry one of the highest tax burdens in the free world. When you include taxpayer subsidies for wind turbines, Danish families pay among the highest energy prices in Europe. According to the September 2009 study by the Danish Center for Political Studies (CEPOS), the intermittent nature of wind power has forced Denmark to export around half of its wind generated electricity to its neighbors at a loss and made up shortfalls by importing vast amounts of power from those same neighbors. The electricity Denmark exports saves no CO2 emissions as the power it replaces is generated by carbon neutral means. It’s a good thing the perils of CO2 have been exaggerated. Danish wind power will not alter the climate. If Denmark scrapped its wind turbines tomorrow its power grid would quickly adapt. Its taxpayers, however, would breathe a lot easier. If Denmark cut off its oil and gas, it would find itself in a dark age of a different variety than that endured by the brave Danes of the Viking era. Let’s not go back.
Commissioner Hedegaard reminded us of the restrictions we all faced during the Arab oil embargo of the 1970’s. This is a poignant reminder of the importance of developing our domestic energy resources and those of our allied democracies. Commissioner Hedegaard will surely concede that Denmark’s done quite a bit of offshore drilling during the last three decades and has benefited thereby. The United States should follow that example.
Denmark’s foot prints are not always ones, however, we can recommend others follow. Danish workers carry one of the highest tax burdens in the free world. When you include taxpayer subsidies for wind turbines, Danish families pay among the highest energy prices in Europe. According to the September 2009 study by the Danish Center for Political Studies (CEPOS), the intermittent nature of wind power has forced Denmark to export around half of its wind generated electricity to its neighbors at a loss and made up shortfalls by importing vast amounts of power from those same neighbors. The electricity Denmark exports saves no CO2 emissions as the power it replaces is generated by carbon neutral means. It’s a good thing the perils of CO2 have been exaggerated.
Danish wind power will not alter the climate. If Denmark scrapped its wind turbines tomorrow its power grid would quickly adapt. Its taxpayers, however, would breathe a lot easier. If Denmark cut off its oil and gas, it would find itself in a dark age of a different variety than that endured by the brave Danes of the Viking era. Let’s not go back.
Bron: cfact.eu
April 21, 2010
Reassessment and renegotiation
Carlo Stagnaro of Istituto Bruno Leoni reports:
The Italian Senate stands for climate realism. A motion passed on last Wednesday commits the Italian government to promote a sound discussion on climate policies with the European Union and the United Nations, with particular regard to the major changes that have occurred after the economic recession, the Climategate scandal, and the failure to reach a global deal in Copenhagen. In fact, the Senate asks both that the current commitments under the EU climate and energy package are re-negotiated, and that an independent investigation is started on the IPCC process.
The motion presented by Senators Antonio D’Alì (chairman of the Environment Committee) and Guido Possa (chairman of the University and Education Committee) as well as many other center-right colleagues, asks the government, among the other things:
lees hele artikel -> cfact.eu
France awaits clearer EU strategy on e-cars
Published: 21 April 2010
France’s ambitious national strategy on electric cars is awaiting a clearer position from the European Union, EurActiv France reports.
Thanks to state support, the classic automobile market in France grew by 10.8% in March 2010 – a considerable leap – but the government is hedging its bets on “de-carbonised” vehicles.
French Ecology and Transport Minister Jean-Louis Borloo unveiled a national strategy in October 2009, with 14 concrete steps to encourage the development of electric and rechargeable hybrid cars.
The objective is to put two million electric vehicles on France’s roads by 2020.
Earlier this month, Borloo and Industry Minister Christian Estrosi stated that ”12 out of the 14 planned steps are now in process”.
”We are the first and the most organised in the European Union’,’ the two ministers added.
The ministers signed a charter with 12 local authorities and car manufacturers PSA Peugeot Citroën and Renault, with the aim of making electric and rechargeable hybrid cars accessible to the public in 2010. Financial support of some €2.5 billion should be provided to the sector.
People buying an electric car will also receive a grant of €5,000. To help establish a market for electric cars, the French state said it will place 100,000 orders for new vehicles. Borloo announced the formation of a group – including EDF, SNCF, Air France, France Télécom and La Poste – which will order an initial 50,000 vehicles. A call for tender will open on 23 April.
Brussels preparing legislative package
Meanwhile in Brussels, EU Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani is preparing to unveil an electric car strategy next Tuesday (27 April).
Lees hele artikel -> www.euractiv.com
Italy joins French calls for EU carbon tariff
Published: 16 April 2010 | Updated: 19 April 2010
France and Italy urged the European Union on Thursday (15 April) to impose carbon tariffs on countries that are not part of a global agreement to curb greenhouse gases, an idea opposed by the European Commission and other EU members.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in a letter to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso that the Commission should include the measures in a report due in June on carbon-emitting sectors.
Some EU members are worried that their industries, which pay for permits to emit carbon dioxide, will lose out to cheaper imports from countries that impose no such charges.
“European law [...] foresees the possibility of including importers in the European system for trading emission quotas,” Sarkozy and Berlusconi said in the joint letter.
“The Commission report should define the conditions in which such an adjustment mechanism should be applied to EU borders.”
Germany last year criticised the idea of carbon tariffs as “eco-imperialism”, saying they would be a direct violation of World Trade Organisation rules.
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