Environmental Committee of the European Parliament votes with significant majority for a stabilization of the European Emissions Trading Scheme

Sophie Auconie and Peter Liese: Important Signal for European Climate Protection

The Environmental Committee of the European Parliament has decided with a very clear majority to withdraw certificates from the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for a certain time (Backloading). This measure is intended to stabilize the system, which has suffered from extremely low prices for more than a year.

Dr. Peter Liese, deputy from the Christian Democrats (EPP) and member of the ENVI committee,

appreciated the decision. "If the certificate price is at zero, there is no incentive to invest in climate-friendly technology. Companies which are environment-friendly don't receive a bonus. On the other hand, companies which use outdated technology have no incentive to change this. This is why I consider the intervention as appropriate."

Another important aspect is that many crucial projects of climate mitigation, for example the promotion of energy efficiency, are dependent on revenues from emissions trading. Therefore, many Member states already consider levying national taxes. "National measures distort the internal market and increase the costs", Liese concluded.

For Sophie Auconie (EPP member of the environmental committee): "today's positive vote is good news for the fight against climate change. While Barack Obama and China want to go forward on climate change, we have to strengthen ETS and to promote this market-based system as the cornerstone of our climate policy and a possible model for the world."