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Emissions trading - putting a price on carbon
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The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a world first and a major weapon in Europe's fight against climate change. The innovative system has turned carbon dioxide emissions into a tradeable commodity. They can now be bought and sold like any other of the thousands of products traded on world markets today.
The scheme works by placing a limit or a 'cap' on the amount of carbon dioxide participating installations - currently around 10,500 across the European Union - can emit every year. If an installation emits more than its allowance, it must either pay a very hefty fine or buy surplus allowances from companies that have managed to stay below their limit. The system ensures that overall CO2 emissions from the plants covered are cut in the most cost effective way.
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Climate change mitigation
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Emissions trading
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(This video has audio)
An explanation of emissions trading.
Source: EU Emissions Trading - An Open Scheme Promoting Global Innovation to Combat Climate Change (Nov. 2004), by the EU Publications Office
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Climate change mitigation
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Multimedia
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Monitoring CO2 emissions from new passenger cars in the EU: summary of data for 2011
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For the second year, the EEA has collected Member
States' data on passenger car registrations, in
accordance with Regulation (EC) No 443/2009
(CO2 from cars). All Member States reported
information on CO2 emissions and the mass of cars,
together with other vehicle characteristics. This
data was used to evaluate the performance in 2011
of the new vehicle fleet, and its progress toward
meeting the CO2 emissions target of 130 gCO2/km
by 2015.
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Publications
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Households and industry responsible for half of EU greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels
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Households and industry in the EU each cause approximately a quarter of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The two sectors were largely responsible for the emissions increase in 2010, together leading to an additional 90 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to 2009.
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IPCC report provides new evidence of climate change
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As scientists have increased their understanding of the climate system, they have been able to state with increasing certainty that the Earth’s climate has changed beyond historic variability, and that humans are the main cause. This is demonstrated in the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
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News
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Annual European Community greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2007 and inventory report 2009
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The present inventory also constitutes the EU‑15 voluntary submission under the Kyoto Protocol.
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Publications
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Trees help tackle climate change
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Over one year a mature tree will take up about 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and in exchange release oxygen. Each year, 1.3 million trees are estimated to remove more than 2500 tonnes of pollutants from the air.
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Articles
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Forests, health and climate change
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Key facts
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Environment and our health
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Topics and subtopics
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Environment and health
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Multimedia
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Emissions intensity of carbon dioxide from public conventional thermal power production
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Emissions intensity of carbon dioxide from public conventional thermal power production
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Data and maps
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Maps and graphs
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EU reports lowest greenhouse gas emissions on record
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The European Union's greenhouse gas emissions continued to fall in 2012, as a 1.3 % decrease cut emissions to 19.2 % below 1990 levels, according to official data from the European Environment Agency (EEA). This puts the EU within reach of its 20 % reduction target, with eight years to go until the 2020 deadline.
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News
