O Sistema de Comércio de Emissões da UE (EU ETS)
O Sistema de Comércio de Emissões da UE explicou.
O sistema de comércio de emissões da UE (EU ETS) é uma pedra angular da política da UE para combater as alterações climáticas e a sua ferramenta chave para reduzir as emissões de gases com efeito de estufa de forma rentável. É o primeiro mercado de carbono do mundo e continua sendo o maior.
opera em 31 países (todos os 28 países da UE, mais a Islândia, o Liechtenstein e a Noruega) limita as emissões de mais de 11 mil instalações de energia pesada (centrais eléctricas e instalações industriais) e as companhias aéreas que operam entre esses países cobre cerca de 45% dos gases de efeito estufa da UE emissões.
Para uma visão geral detalhada, veja:
Um sistema "cap and trade".
O EU ETS trabalha no princípio do "capital e do comércio".
Um limite é fixado na quantidade total de certos gases de efeito estufa que podem ser emitidos por instalações cobertas pelo sistema. A tampa é reduzida ao longo do tempo para que as emissões totais caírem.
Dentro do limite, as empresas recebem ou compram licenças de emissão que podem trocar entre si, conforme necessário. Eles também podem comprar quantidades limitadas de créditos internacionais de projetos de poupança de emissões em todo o mundo. O limite do número total de permissões disponíveis garante que eles tenham um valor.
Depois de cada ano, uma empresa deve entregar subsídios suficientes para cobrir todas as suas emissões, caso contrário multas pesadas são impostas. Se uma empresa reduz suas emissões, ela pode manter os subsídios de reposição para cobrir suas necessidades futuras, ou então vendê-las para outra empresa que não possui subsídios.
O comércio traz flexibilidade que garante que as emissões sejam reduzidas, quando menos custa. Um preço robusto do carbono também promove o investimento em tecnologias limpas e com baixas emissões de carbono.
Principais características da fase 3 (2018-2020)
O EU ETS está agora em sua terceira fase - significativamente diferente das fases 1 e 2.
As principais mudanças são:
Um único limite de emissões a nível da UE aplica-se ao sistema anterior de capitais nacionais. O leilão é o método padrão para a alocação de licenças (em vez da alocação gratuita), e as regras de alocação harmonizadas se aplicam às licenças ainda concedidas gratuitamente. Mais setores e Os gases incluíram 300 milhões de licenças reservadas na Reserva dos Novos Participantes para financiar a implantação de tecnologias inovadoras de energia renovável e captura e armazenamento de carbono através do programa NER 300.
Sectores e gases abrangidos.
O sistema abrange os seguintes setores e gases com foco em emissões que podem ser medidas, reportadas e verificadas com um alto nível de precisão:
dióxido de carbono (CO 2) da geração de energia e geração de energia setores industriais intensivos em energia, incluindo refinarias de petróleo, siderúrgicas e produção de ferro, alumínio, metais, cimento, lima, vidro, cerâmica, celulose, papel, papelão, ácidos e produtos químicos orgânicos a granel Óxido de nitrogênio da aviação comercial (N 2 O) a partir da produção de ácidos nítrico, adípico e glioxílico e perfluorocarbonos de glioxal (PFCs) da produção de alumínio.
A participação no ETS da UE é obrigatória para as empresas desses sectores, mas.
Em alguns sectores, apenas as instalações acima de um certo tamanho estão incluídas, certas pequenas instalações podem ser excluídas se os governos implementarem medidas fiscais ou outras que reduzam suas emissões por um montante equivalente no setor de aviação, até 2018 o ETS da UE se aplica apenas aos vôos entre aeroportos localizados no Espaço Económico Europeu (EEE).
Fornecer reduções de emissões.
O ETS da UE provou que colocar um preço sobre o carbono e negociá-lo pode funcionar. As emissões das instalações no esquema estão caindo como previsto - em cerca de 5% em relação ao início da fase 3 (2018) (ver figuras de 2018).
Em 2020, as emissões dos setores abrangidos pelo sistema serão 21% menores do que em 2005.
Desenvolvendo o mercado do carbono.
Criado em 2005, o EU ETS é o primeiro e maior sistema internacional de comércio de emissões do mundo, representando mais de três quartos do comércio internacional de carbono.
O ETS da UE também está inspirando o desenvolvimento do comércio de emissões em outros países e regiões. A UE pretende ligar o EU ETS a outros sistemas compatíveis.
A legislação principal do EU ETS.
30/04/2017 - Versão consolidada da Directiva 2003/87 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho que estabelece um regime de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa na Comunidade e que altera a Directiva 96/61 / CE do Conselho 23/04/2009 - Directiva 2009/29 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho que altera a Directiva 2003/87 / CE de modo a melhorar e alargar o regime de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa da Comunidade 19/11/2008 - Directiva 2008/101 / CE do Conselho o Parlamento Europeu e o Conselho que altera a Directiva 2003/87 / CE, de modo a incluir actividades de aviação no âmbito do regime de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa na Comunidade 27/10/2004 - Directiva 2004/101 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do O Conselho que altera a Directiva 2003/87 / CE que estabelece um regime de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa na Comunidade, no que diz respeito aos mecanismos de projecto do Protocolo de Quioto 13/10/2003 - Directiva 2003/87 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho ncil que estabelece um regime de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa na Comunidade e que altera a Directiva 96/61 / CE do Conselho.
Relatórios do mercado de carbono.
23/11/2017 - COM (2017) 693 - Relatório sobre o funcionamento do mercado europeu do carbono 01/02/2017 - COM (2017) 48 - Relatório sobre o funcionamento do mercado europeu do carbono 18/11/2018 - COM 2018) 576 - Relatório sobre o funcionamento do mercado europeu do carbono 14/11/2018 - COM (2018) 652 - O estado do mercado europeu do carbono em 2018.
Revisão do RCLE da UE para a fase 3.
04/02/2018 - Conclusões do Conselho Europeu de 4 de fevereiro de 2018 (ver conclusões 23 e 24) 18/03/2018 - Orientações sobre a interpretação do Anexo I da Diretiva EET da UE (exceto atividades de aviação) 18/03/2018 - Orientação documento para identificar geradores de eletricidade 06/04/2009 - Comunicado de imprensa do Conselho sobre a adoção do pacote de clima e energia 12/12/2008 - Conclusões da Presidência do Conselho Europeu (11 e 12 de dezembro de 2008) 12/12/2008 - Conselho Europeu Declaração sobre a utilização das receitas de leilões 23/01/2008 - Proposta de directiva do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho que altera a Directiva 2003/87 / CE, a fim de melhorar e alargar o sistema de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa da Comunidade 23 / 01/2008 - Documento de trabalho dos serviços da Comissão - Documento de acompanhamento da Proposta de directiva do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho que altera a Directiva 2003/87 / CE, a fim de melhorar e alargar o sistema de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa da UE - Avaliação de impacto.
Implementação.
04/07/2018 - Projecto de regulamento alterado sobre a determinação dos direitos creditórios internacionais 05/06/2018 - Projecto de regulamento relativo à determinação dos direitos creditórios internacionais 05/05/2018 Regulamento (UE) n. º 389/2018 da Comissão, de 2 de Maio de 2018, que estabelece um cadastro da União nos termos do da Directiva 2003/87 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, decisões n. ° 280/2004 / CE e 406/2009 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho e que revoga os Regulamentos (UE) n. ° 920/2018 da Comissão e N. º 1193/2018 Texto relevante para efeitos do EEE 18/11/2018 - Regulamento da Comissão que estabelece um Registo da União para o período de negociação com início em 1 de Janeiro de 2018 e períodos de negociação subsequentes do regime de comércio de emissões da União nos termos da Directiva 2003/87 / CE do o Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho e a Decisão 280/2004 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho e que altera os Regulamentos (CE) n. º 2216/2004 e (UE) n. º 920/2018 - ainda não publicado no Jornal Oficial 07 / 10/2018 - Regulamento da Comissão (UE) n. º 920/2018 para um sistema de registos normalizado e seguro, nos termos da Directiva 2003/87 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho e da Decisão n. º 280/2004 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho - versão não incluindo as alterações introduzidas pelo Regulamento de 18 de Novembro de 2018 08/10/2008 - Regulamento (CE) n. º 994/2008 da Comissão para um sistema de registos normalizado e seguro, nos termos da Directiva 2003/87 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho e Decisão no 280/2004 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho - versão aplicável até 31 de Dezembro de 2018 26/10/2007 - Decisão do Comité Misto do EEE n. ° 146/2007 que liga o RCLE UE à Noruega, à Islândia e ao Liechtenstein 13/11 / 2006 - Decisão 2006/780 / CE da Comissão relativa à prevenção da contenção dupla de reduções das emissões de gases com efeito de estufa no âmbito do regime comunitário de comércio de licenças de emissão para as actividades dos projectos no âmbito do Protocolo de Quioto nos termos da Directiva 2003/87 / CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho (n documentado no documento C (2006) 5362) 21/12/2004 - Versão consolidada do Regulamento (CE) n. º 2216/2004 da Comissão relativa a um sistema de registos normalizado e seguro, alterado pelo Regulamento (CE) n. º 916/2007 da Comissão, de 31 de Julho 2007, Regulamento (CE) n. º 994/2008 da Comissão, de 8 de Outubro de 2008, e Regulamento (UE) n. º 920/2018 da Comissão, de 7 de Outubro de 2018 - versão não incluída alterações introduzidas pelo Regulamento de 18 de Novembro de 2018.
Aplicação do IVA.
História legislativa da Directiva 2003/87 / CE.
Trabalho anterior à proposta da Comissão.
08/02/2000 - COM (2000) 87 - Livro Verde sobre o comércio de emissões de gases com efeito de estufa na União Europeia Mandato e resultados do Grupo de Trabalho 1 do ECCP: Mecanismos flexíveis 04/09/2001 - Resumo do Presidente da reunião da consulta das partes interessadas (com Indústria e ONGs ambientais) 19/05/1999 - COM (1999) 230 - Preparação para a implementação do Protocolo de Quioto 03/06/1998 - COM (1998) 353 - Alterações climáticas - Rumo a uma estratégia pós-Quioto da UE Âmbito do ETS da UE : 07/2007 - Instalações pequenas no sistema de comércio de licenças de emissão da UE 10/2006 - Inclusão de atividades e gases adicionais no sistema de comércio de licenças da UE Mais harmonização e maior previsibilidade: 12/2006 - A abordagem para novos operadores e fechamentos 10/2006 - Leilão das licenças de emissão de CO2 no RCLE-UE 10/2006 - Harmonização das metodologias de atribuição 12/2006 - Relatório sobre a competitividade internacional Grupo de trabalho do ECCP sobre o comércio de emissões sobre a revisão do RCLE da UE 15/06/2007 - Relatório final do 4º mee sobre a ligação com os sistemas de comércio de emissões em países terceiros 22/05/2007 - Relatório final da 3ª reunião sobre mais harmonização e previsibilidade aumentada 26/04/2007 - Relatório final da 2ª reunião sobre conformidade robusta e execução 09/03/2007 - Relatório final da 1ª reunião sobre o alcance da directiva.
Proposta da Comissão de outubro de 2001.
22/01/2002 - Documento não oficial sobre sinergias entre a proposta de comércio de emissões da CE (COM (2001) 581) e a Directiva IPPC 23/10/2001 - COM (2001) 581 - Proposta de directiva-quadro relativa ao comércio de emissões de gases com efeito de estufa dentro da Comunidade Europeia.
Reação da Comissão à leitura da proposta no Conselho e no Parlamento (incluindo a posição comum do Conselho)
18/07/2003 - COM (2003) 463 - Parecer da Comissão sobre as alterações do Parlamento Europeu à posição comum do Conselho respeitante à proposta de directiva do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho 20/06/2003 - COM (2003) 364 - Comunicação da Comissão ao Parlamento Europeu relativa à posição comum do Conselho sobre a adopção de uma directiva que estabelece um regime de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa na Comunidade e que altera a Directiva 96/61 / CE do Conselho 18/03/2003 - Posição comum (CE ) N. º 28/2003 - Posição comum do Conselho sobre a adopção de uma directiva que estabelece um regime de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa na Comunidade e que altera a Directiva 96/61 / CE do Conselho 27/11/2002 - COM (2002) 680 - Proposta alterada para uma directiva do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho que estabelece um regime de comércio de licenças de emissão de gases com efeito de estufa na Comunidade e que altera a Directiva 96/61 / CE do Conselho Faq.
Abra todas as perguntas.
Perguntas e Respostas sobre o Sistema de Comércio de Emissões revisado (dezembro de 2008)
Qual é o objetivo do comércio de emissões?
O objectivo do Sistema de Comércio de Emissões da UE (EU ETS) é ajudar os Estados-Membros da UE a cumprir os seus compromissos de limitar ou reduzir as emissões de gases com efeito de estufa de forma rentável. Permitir que as empresas participantes compram ou vendam permissões de emissão significa que os cortes de emissão podem ser alcançados ao menos custo.
O RCLE da UE é a pedra angular da estratégia da UE para lutar contra as alterações climáticas. É o primeiro sistema de comércio internacional de emissões de CO 2 no mundo e está em operação desde 2005. A partir de janeiro de 2008, aplica-se não apenas aos 27 Estados-Membros da UE, mas também aos outros três membros da Área Econômica Européia - Noruega, Islândia e Liechtenstein. Atualmente, abrange mais de 10.000 instalações nos setores de energia e industrial, que são coletivamente responsáveis por cerca de metade das emissões de CO 2 da UE e 40% de suas emissões totais de gases de efeito estufa. Uma alteração à Directiva ETS da UE, acordada em Julho de 2008, trará o sector da aviação para o sistema a partir de 2018.
Como funciona o comércio de emissões?
O ETS da UE é um sistema de "capitalização e comércio", ou seja, indica que ele limita o nível geral de emissões permitido, mas, dentro desse limite, permite que os participantes no sistema compram e vendam as licenças conforme exigirem. Essas provisões são a "moeda" comercial comum no coração do sistema. Um subsídio dá ao titular o direito de emitir uma tonelada de CO 2 ou a quantidade equivalente de outro gás com efeito de estufa. O limite do número total de licenças cria escassez no mercado.
No primeiro e segundo período de negociação ao abrigo do regime, os Estados-Membros tiveram de elaborar planos nacionais de atribuição (NAPs) que determinassem o seu nível total de emissões de ETS e quantos subsídios de emissão cada instalação em seu país recebe. No final de cada ano, as instalações devem render subsídios equivalentes às suas emissões. As empresas que mantêm suas emissões abaixo do nível de suas licenças podem vender seus excedentes de licenças. Aqueles que enfrentam dificuldade em manter suas emissões de acordo com suas licenças têm a opção de tomar medidas para reduzir suas próprias emissões - como investir em tecnologia mais eficiente ou usar fontes de energia menos intensivas em carbono - ou comprar os subsídios extras que precisam no mercado , Ou uma combinação de ambos. Essas escolhas provavelmente serão determinadas por custos relativos. Desta forma, as emissões são reduzidas sempre que é mais rentável fazê-lo.
Há quanto tempo o EU ETS está operando?
O ETS da UE foi lançado em 1 de Janeiro de 2005. O primeiro período de negociação foi de três anos até o final de 2007 e foi uma fase de "aprendizagem por fazer" para se preparar para o segundo período de negociação crucial. O segundo período de negociação começou em 1 de Janeiro de 2008 e é executado por cinco anos até o final de 2018. A importância do segundo período de negociação decorre do facto de coincidir com o primeiro período de compromisso do Protocolo de Quioto, durante o qual a UE e outros os países industrializados devem atingir seus objetivos para limitar ou reduzir as emissões de gases de efeito estufa. Para o segundo período comercial, as emissões do ETS da UE limitaram-se a cerca de 6,5% abaixo dos níveis de 2005, a fim de garantir que a UE como um todo e os Estados-Membros individualmente cumprem os compromissos de Quioto.
Quais são as principais lições aprendidas com a experiência até agora?
O EU ETS colocou um preço sobre o carbono e provou que o comércio de emissões de gases de efeito estufa funciona. O primeiro período comercial estabeleceu com sucesso a livre negociação de licenças de emissão em toda a UE, implementou a infra-estrutura necessária e desenvolveu um mercado de carbono dinâmico. O benefício ambiental da primeira fase pode ser limitado devido à alocação excessiva de subsídios em alguns Estados-Membros e em alguns setores, devido principalmente à dependência das projeções de emissões antes que os dados de emissão verificados estejam disponíveis no âmbito do RCLE da UE. Quando a publicação de dados de emissões verificadas para 2005 destacou essa "sobreavaliação", o mercado reagiu como seria esperado pela redução do preço de mercado das licenças. A disponibilidade de dados de emissões verificadas permitiu à Comissão garantir que o limite das dotações nacionais na segunda fase se estabeleça em um nível que resulte em reduções reais de emissões.
Além de sublinhar a necessidade de dados verificados, a experiência até agora demonstrou que uma maior harmonização dentro do RCLE da UE é imperativa para garantir que a UE alcance os seus objetivos de redução de emissões pelo menos com custos e com distorções competitivas mínimas. A necessidade de mais harmonização é mais clara em relação à forma como o limite das licenças de emissão globais é definido.
Os dois primeiros períodos de negociação também mostram que métodos nacionais amplamente diferentes para alocação de licenças para instalações ameaçam uma concorrência leal no mercado interno. Além disso, é necessária uma maior harmonização, esclarecimento e aperfeiçoamento no que se refere ao alcance do sistema, ao acesso a créditos de projetos de redução de emissões fora da UE, as condições para vincular o ETS da UE aos sistemas de comércio de emissões em outros lugares e o monitoramento, verificação e requisitos de relatórios.
Quais são as principais alterações ao ETS da UE e a partir de quando serão aplicadas?
As alterações de design acordadas serão aplicadas a partir do terceiro período de negociação, ou seja, janeiro de 2018. Enquanto os trabalhos preparatórios serão iniciados imediatamente, as regras aplicáveis não mudarão até janeiro de 2018 para garantir a manutenção da estabilidade regulatória.
O EU ETS no terceiro período será um sistema mais eficiente, mais harmonizado e mais justo.
O aumento da eficiência é alcançado por meio de um período de negociação mais longo (8 anos em vez de 5 anos), um limite de emissões robusto e anualmente decrescente (redução de 21% em 2020 em relação a 2005) e um aumento substancial da quantidade de leilão (de menos de 4% na fase 2 para mais da metade na fase 3).
Mais uma harmonização foi acordada em muitas áreas, inclusive no que se refere à definição de limite (um limite da UE em vez dos limites nacionais nas fases 1 e 2) e as regras para a alocação livre de transição.
A equidade do sistema foi substancialmente aumentada pela mudança para as regras de atribuição gratuita da UE para as instalações industriais e pela introdução de um mecanismo de redistribuição que permite aos novos Estados-Membros licitar mais subsídios.
Como o texto final se compara à proposta inicial da Comissão?
Os objectivos de clima e energia acordados pelo Conselho Europeu da Primavera de 2007 foram mantidos e a arquitectura geral da proposta da Comissão sobre o RCLE da UE permanece intacta. Ou seja, haverá um limite máximo da UE sobre o número de licenças de emissão e este limite diminuirá anualmente ao longo de uma linha de tendência linear, que continuará para além do final do terceiro período de negociação (2018-2020). A principal diferença, em comparação com a proposta, é que o leilão de licenças será gradualmente mais lento.
Quais são as principais mudanças em relação à proposta da Comissão?
Em resumo, as principais mudanças que foram feitas na proposta são as seguintes:
Alguns Estados-Membros podem beneficiar de uma derrogação facultativa e temporária da regra segundo a qual as licenças de emissão devem ser atribuídas gratuitamente aos geradores de electricidade a partir de 2018. Esta opção de derrogação está disponível para os Estados-Membros que cumpram certas condições relacionadas com a interconectividade de sua eletricidade grade, participação de um único combustível fóssil na produção de eletricidade e PIB / habitação em relação à média da UE-27. Além disso, a quantidade de licenças gratuitas que um Estado-Membro pode atribuir a usinas de energia é limitada a 70% das emissões de dióxido de carbono das plantas relevantes na fase 1 e diminui nos anos subseqüentes. Além disso, a alocação gratuita na fase 3 só pode ser dada às usinas que estejam operacionais ou em construção até o final de 2008. Veja a resposta à pergunta 15 abaixo. Haverá mais detalhes na directiva sobre os critérios a serem utilizados para determinar os setores ou subsectores considerados expostos a um risco significativo de vazamento de carbono e uma data anterior à publicação da lista da Comissão desses setores (31 de dezembro 2009). Além disso, sujeito a revisão quando um acordo internacional satisfatório for alcançado, as instalações em todas as indústrias expostas receberão 100% de licenças gratuitas na medida em que usem a tecnologia mais eficiente. A alocação gratuita para a indústria é limitada à participação das emissões dessas emissões nas emissões totais em 2005 a 2007. O número total de licenças atribuídas gratuitamente às instalações nos setores da indústria diminuirá anualmente de acordo com o declínio do limite de emissões. Os Estados-Membros podem também compensar certas instalações para os custos de CO 2 repercutidos nos preços da electricidade se os custos de CO 2 puderem, de outro modo, expô-los ao risco de vazamento de carbono. A Comissão comprometeu-se a modificar as orientações comunitárias relativas aos auxílios estatais a favor do ambiente a este respeito. Veja a resposta à pergunta 15 abaixo. O nível de leilão de licenças para a indústria não exposta aumentará de forma linear, conforme proposto pela Comissão, mas, em vez de atingir 100% até 2020, atingirá 70%, com vista a atingir 100% até 2027. Conforme previsto em Na proposta da Comissão, 10% das licenças para leilão serão redistribuídas de Estados-Membros com elevado rendimento per capita para pessoas com baixo rendimento per capita, a fim de reforçar a capacidade financeira destes últimos para investir em tecnologias amigáveis com o clima. Foi adicionada uma provisão para outro mecanismo redistributivo de 2% das licenças de leilão para levar em consideração os Estados-Membros que em 2005 alcançaram uma redução de pelo menos 20% nas emissões de gases de efeito estufa em relação ao ano de referência estabelecido pelo Protocolo de Quioto. A participação das receitas de leilão que os Estados-Membros recomendam utilizar para combater e adaptar-se às alterações climáticas, principalmente na UE, mas também nos países em desenvolvimento, é aumentada de 20% para 50%. O texto fornece um complemento para o nível de uso permitido proposto de créditos JI / CDM no cenário de 20% para os operadores existentes que receberam os orçamentos mais baixos para importar e usar esses créditos em relação às alocações e acesso aos créditos no período 2008-2018. Novos setores, novos participantes nos períodos 2018-2020 e 2008-2018 também poderão usar créditos. O montante total de créditos que podem ser utilizados não excederá, no entanto, 50% da redução entre 2008 e 2020. Com base em uma redução mais rigorosa das emissões no contexto de um acordo internacional satisfatório, a Comissão poderia permitir o acesso adicional às RCE e UREs para os operadores do regime comunitário. Veja a resposta à pergunta 20 abaixo. O produto do leilão de 300 milhões de licenças da reserva dos novos participantes será utilizado para apoiar até 12 projetos e projetos de demonstração de captura e armazenamento de carbono que demonstram tecnologias inovadoras de energia renovável. Uma série de condições são anexadas a este mecanismo de financiamento. Veja a resposta à pergunta 30 abaixo. A possibilidade de excluir as pequenas instalações de combustão, desde que estejam sujeitas a medidas equivalentes, tenha sido ampliada para cobrir todas as pequenas instalações, independentemente da atividade, o limite de emissão foi aumentado de 10.000 para 25.000 toneladas de CO 2 por ano e o limite de capacidade que As instalações de combustão devem ser cumpridas, além disso, foram aumentadas de 25MW para 35MW. Com esses limiares aumentados, a participação das emissões cobertas que poderiam ser excluídas do sistema de comércio de emissões torna-se significativa e, consequentemente, uma provisão foi adicionada para permitir uma redução correspondente do limite máximo da UE em subsídios.
Ainda haverá planos nacionais de alocação (NAPs)?
Não. Nos seus PAN para os primeiros períodos de negociação (2005-2007) e segundo (2008-2018), os Estados-Membros determinaram a quantidade total de licenças de emissão a serem emitidas - o limite - e como estas seriam alocadas às instalações em questão. Esta abordagem gerou diferenças significativas nas regras de alocação, criando um incentivo para cada Estado-Membro favorecer sua própria indústria e gerou uma grande complexidade.
A partir do terceiro período de negociação, haverá um único limite para a UE e as licenças serão alocadas com base em regras harmonizadas. Os planos de alocação nacionais não serão mais necessários.
Como o limite de emissão na fase 3 será determinado?
As regras para o cálculo do limite da UE são as seguintes:
A partir de 2018, o número total de licenças diminuirá anualmente de forma linear. O ponto de partida desta linha é a quantidade total média de subsídios (limite de fase 2) a ser emitido pelos Estados Membros para o período 2008-12, ajustado para refletir o alcance ampliado do sistema a partir de 2018, bem como quaisquer pequenas instalações que o Membro Os Estados escolheram excluir. O fator linear pelo qual o montante anual deve diminuir é de 1,74% em relação ao limite da fase 2.
O ponto de partida para determinar o fator linear de 1,74% é a redução global de 20% dos gases com efeito de estufa em relação a 1990, o que equivale a uma redução de 14% em relação a 2005. No entanto, é necessária uma redução maior do ETS da UE porque é mais barato para reduzir as emissões nos setores ETS. A divisão que minimiza o custo total de redução equivale a:
uma redução de 21% nas emissões do sector ETS da UE em comparação com 2005 até 2020; uma redução de cerca de 10% em relação a 2005 para os sectores que não são abrangidos pelo RCLE da UE.
A redução de 21% em 2020 resulta em um limite de ETS em 2020 de um máximo de 1720 milhões de licenças e implica um limite médio de fase 3 (2018 a 2020) de cerca de 1846 milhões de licenças e uma redução de 11% em relação ao limite de fase 2.
Todos os valores absolutos indicados correspondem à cobertura no início do segundo período de negociação e, portanto, não levam em conta a aviação, que será adicionada em 2018 e outros setores que serão adicionados na fase 3.
Os valores finais dos limites anuais de emissão na fase 3 serão determinados e publicados pela Comissão até 30 de setembro de 2018.
Como o limite de emissão para além da fase 3 será determinado?
O fator linear de 1,74% usado para determinar o limite da fase 3 continuará a ser aplicado além do final do período de negociação em 2020 e determinará o limite para o quarto período de negociação (2021 a 2028) e além. Pode ser revisto até 2025, o mais tardar. De fato, as reduções significativas de emissões de 60% a 80% em relação a 1990 serão necessárias até 2050 para atingir o objetivo estratégico de limitar o aumento da temperatura média global para não mais de 2 ° C acima dos níveis pré-industriais.
Será estabelecido um limite máximo de licenças de emissão a nível da UE para cada ano. Isso reduziria a flexibilidade para as instalações em questão?
Não, a flexibilidade para as instalações não será reduzida. Em qualquer ano, os subsídios a serem leilados e distribuídos devem ser emitidos pelas autoridades competentes até 28 de fevereiro. A última data para os operadores renderem subsídios é 30 de abril do ano seguinte ao ano em que as emissões ocorreram. Assim, os operadores recebem subsídios para o ano em curso antes de terem que entregar subsídios para cobrir suas emissões para o ano anterior. Os subsídios permanecem válidos durante todo o período de negociação e quaisquer subsídios excedentes agora podem ser "depositados" para uso em períodos de negociação subsequentes. A este respeito, nada mudará.
O sistema permanecerá com base nos períodos de negociação, mas o terceiro período de negociação durará oito anos, de 2018 a 2020, em oposição a cinco anos para a segunda fase de 2008 a 2018.
Para o segundo período de negociação, os Estados-Membros geralmente decidiram atribuir quantidades iguais iguais de subsídios para cada ano. A diminuição linear de cada ano a partir de 2018 corresponderá melhor às tendências de emissões esperadas ao longo do período.
Quais são os números preliminares preliminares do ETS para o período de 2018 a 2020?
Os valores iniciais preliminares são os seguintes:
Estes valores baseiam-se no âmbito do RCLE aplicável na fase 2 (2008 a 2018) e as decisões da Comissão sobre os planos nacionais de atribuição para a fase 2, no montante de 2083 milhões de toneladas. Estes números serão ajustados por vários motivos. Em primeiro lugar, será feito o ajuste para levar em consideração as extensões do escopo na fase 2, desde que os Estados Membros comprovem e verifiquem suas emissões resultantes dessas extensões. Em segundo lugar, o ajuste será feito com relação a extensões adicionais do escopo do ETS no terceiro período de negociação. Em terceiro lugar, qualquer opt-out de pequenas instalações levará a uma redução correspondente do limite. Em quarto lugar, os números não levam em conta a inclusão da aviação, nem as emissões da Noruega, da Islândia e do Liechtenstein.
Os subsídios ainda serão alocados gratuitamente?
Sim. As instalações industriais receberão alocação livre de transição. E, nos Estados-Membros elegíveis para a derrogação facultativa, as centrais eléctricas podem, se o Estado-Membro assim o decidir, também receberem licenças gratuitas. Estima-se que pelo menos metade dos subsídios disponíveis a partir de 2018 serão leiloados.
Embora a grande maioria das licenças de emissão tenha sido atribuída gratuitamente às instalações no primeiro e segundo períodos de negociação, a Comissão propôs que o leilão de licenças de emissão se tornasse o princípio básico para a alocação. Isso porque o leilão melhor garante a eficiência, transparência e simplicidade do sistema e cria o maior incentivo para investimentos em uma economia de baixo carbono. É melhor cumprir com o princípio do "poluidor-pagador" e evita dar lucros inesperados a certos setores que passaram o custo nocional de subsídios para seus clientes, apesar de recebê-los gratuitamente.
Como as permissões serão entregues de graça?
Até 31 de dezembro de 2018, a Comissão adotará regras a nível da UE, que serão desenvolvidas no âmbito de um procedimento de comitê ("Comitologia"). Essas regras harmonizarão completamente as dotações e, portanto, todas as empresas em toda a UE com as mesmas atividades ou atividades similares estarão sujeitas às mesmas regras. As regras garantirão, na medida do possível, que a alocação promova tecnologias eficientes em carbono. As regras adotadas estabelecem que, na medida do possível, as alocações devem basear-se nos chamados benchmarks, p. Ex. uma série de licenças por quantidade de produção histórica. Essas regras recompensam os operadores que tomaram medidas adiantadas para reduzir os gases de efeito estufa, refletem melhor o princípio do poluidor-pagador e oferecem incentivos mais fortes para reduzir as emissões, já que as alocações não dependerão mais das emissões históricas. Todas as alocações devem ser determinadas antes do início do terceiro período de negociação e não serão permitidos ajustes ex-post.
Quais instalações receberão alocações gratuitas e quais não serão? Como evitar os impactos negativos sobre a competitividade?
Tendo em conta a sua capacidade de repercutir o aumento do custo das licenças de emissão, o leilão completo é a regra a partir de 2018 para os geradores de eletricidade. However, Member States who fulfil certain conditions relating to their interconnectivity or their share of fossil fuels in electricity production and GDP per capita in relation to the EU-27 average, have the option to temporarily deviate from this rule with respect to existing power plants. The auctioning rate in 2018 is to be at least 30% in relation to emissions in the first period and has to increase progressively to 100% no later than 2020. If the option is applied, the Member State has to undertake to invest in improving and upgrading of the infrastructure, in clean technologies and in diversification of their energy mix and sources of supply for an amount to the extent possible equal to the market value of the free allocation.
In other sectors, allocations for free will be phased out progressively from 2018, with Member States agreeing to start at 20% auctioning in 2018, increasing to 70% auctioning in 2020 with a view to reaching 100% in 2027. However, an exception will be made for installations in sectors that are found to be exposed to a significant risk of 'carbon leakage'. This risk could occur if the EU ETS increased production costs so much that companies decided to relocate production to areas outside the EU that are not subject to comparable emission constraints. The Commission will determine the sectors concerned by 31 December 2009. To do this, the Commission will assess inter alia whether the direct and indirect additional production costs induced by the implementation of the ETS Directive as a proportion of gross value added exceed 5% and whether the total value of its exports and imports divided by the total value of its turnover and imports exceeds 10%. If the result for either of these criteria exceeds 30%, the sector would also be considered to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage. Installations in these sectors would receive 100% of their share in the annually declining total quantity of allowances for free. The share of these industries' emissions is determined in relation to total ETS emissions in 2005 to 2007.
CO 2 costs passed on in electricity prices could also expose certain installations to the risk of carbon leakage. In order to avoid such risk, Member States may grant a compensation with respect to such costs. In the absence of an international agreement on climate change, the Commission has undertaken to modify the Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection in this respect.
Under an international agreement which ensures that competitors in other parts of the world bear a comparable cost, the risk of carbon leakage may well be negligible. Therefore, by 30 June 2018, the Commission will carry out an in-depth assessment of the situation of energy-intensive industry and the risk of carbon leakage, in the light of the outcome of the international negotiations and also taking into account any binding sectoral agreements that may have been concluded. The report will be accompanied by any proposals considered appropriate. These could potentially include maintaining or adjusting the proportion of allowances received free of charge to industrial installations that are particularly exposed to global competition or including importers of the products concerned in the ETS.
Who will organise the auctions and how will they be carried out?
Member States will be responsible for ensuring that the allowances given to them are auctioned. Each Member State has to decide whether it wants to develop its own auctioning infrastructure and platform or whether it wants to cooperate with other Member States to develop regional or EU-wide solutions. The distribution of the auctioning rights to Member States is largely based on emissions in phase 1 of the EU ETS, but a part of the rights will be redistributed from richer Member States to poorer ones to take account of the lower GDP per head and higher prospects for growth and emissions among the latter. It is still the case that 10% of the rights to auction allowances will be redistributed from Member States with high per capita income to those with low per capita income in order to strengthen the financial capacity of the latter to invest in climate friendly technologies. However, a provision has been added for another redistributive mechanism of 2% to take into account Member States which in 2005 had achieved a reduction of at least 20% in greenhouse gas emissions compared with the reference year set by the Kyoto Protocol. Nine Member States benefit from this provision.
Any auctioning must respect the rules of the internal market and must therefore be open to any potential buyer under non-discriminatory conditions. By 30 June 2018, the Commission will adopt a Regulation (through the comitology procedure) that will provide the appropriate rules and conditions for ensuring efficient, coordinated auctions without disturbing the allowance market.
How many allowances will each Member State auction and how is this amount determined?
All allowances which are not allocated free of charge will be auctioned. A total of 88% of allowances to be auctioned by each Member State is distributed on the basis of the Member State's share of historic emissions under the EU ETS. For purposes of solidarity and growth, 12% of the total quantity is distributed in a way that takes into account GDP per capita and the achievements under the Kyoto-Protocol.
Which sectors and gases are covered as of 2018?
The ETS covers installations performing specified activities. Since the start it has covered, above certain capacity thresholds, power stations and other combustion plants, oil refineries, coke ovens, iron and steel plants and factories making cement, glass, lime, bricks, ceramics, pulp, paper and board. As for greenhouse gases, it currently only covers carbon dioxide emissions, with the exception of the Netherlands, which has opted in emissions from nitrous oxide.
As from 2018, the scope of the ETS will be extended to also include other sectors and greenhouse gases. CO 2 emissions from petrochemicals, ammonia and aluminium will be included, as will N2O emissions from the production of nitric, adipic and glyocalic acid production and perfluorocarbons from the aluminium sector. The capture, transport and geological storage of all greenhouse gas emissions will also be covered. These sectors will receive allowances free of charge according to EU-wide rules, in the same way as other industrial sectors already covered.
As of 2018, aviation will also be included in the EU ETS.
Will small installations be excluded from the scope?
A large number of installations emitting relatively low amounts of CO 2 are currently covered by the ETS and concerns have been raised over the cost-effectiveness of their inclusion. As from 2018, Member States will be allowed to remove these installations from the ETS under certain conditions. The installations concerned are those whose reported emissions were lower than 25 000 tonnes of CO 2 equivalent in each of the 3 years preceding the year of application. For combustion installations, an additional capacity threshold of 35MW applies. In addition Member States are given the possibility to exclude installations operated by hospitals. The installations may be excluded from the ETS only if they will be covered by measures that will achieve an equivalent contribution to emission reductions.
How many emission credits from third countries will be allowed?
For the second trading period, Member States allowed their operators to use significant quantities of credits generated by emission-saving projects undertaken in third countries to cover part of their emissions in the same way as they use ETS allowances. The revised Directive extends the rights to use these credits for the third trading period and allows a limited additional quantity to be used in such a way that the overall use of credits is limited to 50% of the EU-wide reductions over the period 2008-2020. For existing installations, and excluding new sectors within the scope, this will represent a total level of access of approximately 1.6 billion credits over the period 2008-2020. In practice, this means that existing operators will be able to use credits up to a minimum of 11% of their allocation during the period 2008-2018, while a top-up is foreseen for operators with the lowest sum of free allocation and allowed use of credits in the 2008-2018 period. New sectors and new entrants in the third trading period will have a guaranteed minimum access of 4.5% of their verified emissions during the period 2018-2020. For the aviation sector, the minimum access will be 1.5%. The precise percentages will be determined through comitology.
These projects must be officially recognised under the Kyoto Protocol’s Joint Implementation (JI) mechanism (covering projects carried out in countries with an emissions reduction target under the Protocol) or Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (for projects undertaken in developing countries). Credits from JI projects are known as Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) while those from CDM projects are called Certified Emission Reductions (CERs).
On the quality side only credits from project types eligible for use in the EU trading scheme during the period 2008-2018 will be accepted in the period 2018-2020. Furthermore, from 1 January 2018 measures may be applied to restrict the use of specific credits from project types. Such a quality control mechanism is needed to assure the environmental and economic integrity of future project types.
To create greater flexibility, and in the absence of an international agreement being concluded by 31 December 2009, credits could be used in accordance with agreements concluded with third countries. The use of these credits should however not increase the overall number beyond 50% of the required reductions. Such agreements would not be required for new projects that started from 2018 onwards in Least Developed Countries.
Based on a stricter emissions reduction in the context of a satisfactory international agreement , additional access to credits could be allowed, as well as the use of additional types of project credits or other mechanisms created under the international agreement. However, once an international agreement has been reached, from January 2018 onwards only credits from projects in third countries that have ratified the agreement or from additional types of project approved by the Commission will be eligible for use in the Community scheme.
Will it be possible to use credits from carbon ‘sinks’ like forests?
No. Before making its proposal, the Commission analysed the possibility of allowing credits from certain types of land use, land-use change and forestry (‘LULUCF’) projects which absorb carbon from the atmosphere. It concluded that doing so could undermine the environmental integrity of the EU ETS, for the following reasons:
LULUCF projects cannot physically deliver permanent emissions reductions. Insufficient solutions have been developed to deal with the uncertainties, non-permanence of carbon storage and potential emissions 'leakage' problems arising from such projects. The temporary and reversible nature of such activities would pose considerable risks in a company-based trading system and impose great liability risks on Member States. The inclusion of LULUCF projects in the ETS would require a quality of monitoring and reporting comparable to the monitoring and reporting of emissions from installations currently covered by the system. This is not available at present and is likely to incur costs which would substantially reduce the attractiveness of including such projects. The simplicity, transparency and predictability of the ETS would be considerably reduced. Moreover, the sheer quantity of potential credits entering the system could undermine the functioning of the carbon market unless their role were limited, in which case their potential benefits would become marginal.
The Commission, the Council and the European Parliament believe that global deforestation can be better addressed through other instruments. For example, using part of the proceeds from auctioning allowances in the EU ETS could generate additional means to invest in LULUCF activities both inside and outside the EU, and may provide a model for future expansion. In this respect the Commission has proposed to set up the Global Forest Carbon Mechanism that would be a performance-based system for financing reductions in deforestation levels in developing countries.
Besides those already mentioned, are there other credits that could be used in the revised ETS?
Sim. Projects in EU Member States which reduce greenhouse gas emissions not covered by the ETS could issue credits. These Community projects would need to be managed according to common EU provisions set up by the Commission in order to be tradable throughout the system. Such provisions would be adopted only for projects that cannot be realised through inclusion in the ETS. The provisions will seek to ensure that credits from Community projects do not result in double-counting of emission reductions nor impede other policy measures to reduce emissions not covered by the ETS, and that they are based on simple, easily administered rules.
Are there measures in place to ensure that the price of allowances won't fall sharply during the third trading period?
A stable and predictable regulatory framework is vital for market stability. The revised Directive makes the regulatory framework as predictable as possible in order to boost stability and rule out policy-induced volatility. Important elements in this respect are the determination of the cap on emissions in the Directive well in advance of the start of the trading period, a linear reduction factor for the cap on emissions which continues to apply also beyond 2020 and the extension of the trading period from 5 to 8 years. The sharp fall in the allowance price during the first trading period was due to over-allocation of allowances which could not be “banked” for use in the second trading period. For the second and subsequent trading periods, Member States are obliged to allow the banking of allowances from one period to the next and therefore the end of one trading period is not expected to have any impact on the price.
A new provision will apply as of 2018 in case of excessive price fluctuations in the allowance market. If, for more than six consecutive months, the allowance price is more than three times the average price of allowances during the two preceding years on the European market, the Commission will convene a meeting with Member States. If it is found that the price evolution does not correspond to market fundamentals, the Commission may either allow Member States to bring forward the auctioning of a part of the quantity to be auctioned, or allow them to auction up to 25% of the remaining allowances in the new entrant reserve.
The price of allowances is determined by supply and demand and reflects fundamental factors like economic growth, fuel prices, rainfall and wind (availability of renewable energy) and temperature (demand for heating and cooling) etc. A degree of uncertainty is inevitable for such factors. The markets, however, allow participants to hedge the risks that may result from changes in allowances prices.
Are there any provisions for linking the EU ETS to other emissions trading systems?
Sim. One of the key means to reduce emissions more cost-effectively is to enhance and further develop the global carbon market. The Commission sees the EU ETS as an important building block for the development of a global network of emission trading systems. Linking other national or regional cap-and-trade emissions trading systems to the EU ETS can create a bigger market, potentially lowering the aggregate cost of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The increased liquidity and reduced price volatility that this would entail would improve the functioning of markets for emission allowances. This may lead to a global network of trading systems in which participants, including legal entities, can buy emission allowances to fulfil their respective reduction commitments.
The EU is keen to work with the new US Administration to build a transatlantic and indeed global carbon market to act as the motor of a concerted international push to combat climate change.
While the original Directive allows for linking the EU ETS with other industrialised countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, the new rules allow for linking with any country or administrative entity (such as a state or group of states under a federal system) which has established a compatible mandatory cap-and-trade system whose design elements would not undermine the environmental integrity of the EU ETS. Where such systems cap absolute emissions, there would be mutual recognition of allowances issued by them and the EU ETS.
What is a Community registry and how does it work?
Registries are standardised electronic databases ensuring the accurate accounting of the issuance, holding, transfer and cancellation of emission allowances. As a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol in its own right, the Community is also obliged to maintain a registry. This is the Community Registry, which is distinct from the registries of Member States. Allowances issued from 1 January 2018 onwards will be held in the Community registry instead of in national registries.
Will there be any changes to monitoring, reporting and verification requirements?
The Commission will adopt a new Regulation (through the comitology procedure) by 31 December 2018 governing the monitoring and reporting of emissions from the activities listed in Annex I of the Directive. A separate Regulation on the verification of emission reports and the accreditation of verifiers should specify conditions for accreditation, mutual recognition and cancellation of accreditation for verifiers, and for supervision and peer review as appropriate.
What provision will be made for new entrants into the market?
Five percent of the total quantity of allowances will be put into a reserve for new installations or airlines that enter the system after 2018 (“new entrants”). The allocations from this reserve should mirror the allocations to corresponding existing installations.
A part of the new entrant reserve, amounting to 300 million allowances, will be made available to support the investments in up to 12 demonstration projects using the carbon capture and storage technology and demonstration projects using innovative renewable energy technologies. There should be a fair geographical distribution of the projects.
In principle, any allowances remaining in the reserve shall be distributed to Member States for auctioning. The distribution key shall take into account the level to which installations in Member States have benefited from this reserve.
What has been agreed with respect to the financing of the 12 carbon capture and storage demonstration projects requested by a previous European Council?
The European Parliament's Environment Committee tabled an amendment to the EU ETS Directive requiring allowances in the new entrant reserve to be set aside in order to co-finance up to 12 demonstration projects as requested by the European Council in spring 2007. This amendment has later been extended to include also innovative renewable energy technologies that are not commercially viable yet. Projects shall be selected on the basis of objective and transparent criteria that include requirements for knowledge sharing. Support shall be given from the proceeds of these allowances via Member States and shall be complementary to substantial co-financing by the operator of the installation. No project shall receive support via this mechanism that exceeds 15% of the total number of allowances (i. e. 45 million allowances) available for this purpose. The Member State may choose to co-finance the project as well, but will in any case transfer the market value of the attributed allowances to the operator, who will not receive any allowances.
A total of 300 million allowances will therefore be set aside until 2018 for this purpose.
What is the role of an international agreement and its potential impact on EU ETS?
When an international agreement is reached, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council assessing the nature of the measures agreed upon in the international agreement and their implications, in particular with respect to the risk of carbon leakage. On the basis of this report, the Commission shall then adopt a legislative proposal amending the present Directive as appropriate.
For the effects on the use of credits from Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism projects, please see the reply to question 20.
What are the next steps?
Member States have to bring into force the legal instruments necessary to comply with certain provisions of the revised Directive by 31 December 2009. This concerns the collection of duly substantiated and verified emissions data from installations that will only be covered by the EU ETS as from 2018, and the national lists of installations and the allocation to each one. For the remaining provisions, the national laws, regulations and administrative provisions only have to be ready by 31 December 2018.
The Commission has already started the work on implementation. For example, the collection and analysis of data for use in relation to carbon leakage is ongoing (list of sectors due end 2009). Work is also ongoing to prepare the Regulation on timing, administration and other aspects of auctioning (due by June 2018), the harmonised allocation rules (due end 2018) and the two Regulations on monitoring and reporting of emissions and verification of emissions and accreditation of verifiers (due end 2018).
Regulatory guidance for installations: the greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme.
Help for those operating or regulating activities that are covered by the greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme regulations 2018.
Last updated 25 January 2017 — see all updates.
European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS): Regulatory guidance for installations (including excluded installations) - The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2018.
Ref: LIT 7592 PDF , 291KB , 40 pages.
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This guidance aims to provide help for those operating or regulating activities that are covered by the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2018.
This guidance applies to Phase III of the european union emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) only (which commences on 1 January 2018) and excludes aviation, for which there is separate guidance.
To ensure this guidance is current and up to date, it will be updated from time to time.
Last updated 25 January 2017 + full page history.
25 January 2017 The Regulatory guidance for installations: the greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme has been updated to reflect amendments to Regulations and removal of outdated information. This document was updated in January 2017. 1 February 2018 First published.
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Participating in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)
Introduction to the EU Emissions Trading System including how the cap-and-trade System works, how free allowances are allocated, details on complying, the inclusion of aviation in the System and the UK’s opt-out scheme for small emitters and hospitals.
Visão geral.
The EU ETS is the largest multi-country, multi-sector greenhouse gas emissions trading system in the world.
It includes more than 11,000 power stations and industrial plants across the EU with around 1,000 of these in the UK. These include power stations, oil refineries, offshore platforms and industries that produce iron and steel, cement and lime, paper, glass, ceramics and chemicals.
Other organisations, including universities and hospitals, may also be covered by the EU ETS depending upon the combustion capacity of equipment at their sites. Aviation operators flying into or from a European airport are also covered by the EU ETS .
This guidance explains the EU ’s cap and trade system, including details of the phases of delivery of the System. It provides information on the UK’s application for Phase III free allowances via its National Implementation Measures (NIMs ), as well as details of compliance and verification. There are also sections on emissions regulation for the aviation industry and the UK’s Small Emitters and Hospitals Opt-out Scheme.
Cap and trade.
The EU ETS works on a ‘cap and trade’ basis, so there is a ‘cap’ or limit set on the total greenhouse gas emissions allowed by all participants covered by the System and this cap is converted into tradable emission allowances.
Tradable emission allowances are allocated to participants in the market; in the EU ETS this is done via a mixture of free allocation and auctions. One allowance gives the holder the right to emit 1 tonne of CO2 (or its equivalent). Participants covered by the EU ETS must monitor and report their emissions each year and surrender enough emission allowances to cover their annual emissions.
Participants who are likely to emit more than their allocation have a choice between taking measures to reduce their emissions or buying additional allowances; either from the secondary market – eg companies who hold allowances they do not need – or from Member State held auctions. More information is available on the EU ETS : carbon markets webpage.
It does not matter where (in terms of physical location) emission reductions are made because emissions savings have the same environmental effect wherever they are made.
The rationale behind emissions trading is that it enables emission reductions to take place where the cost of the reduction is lowest, lessening the overall cost of tackling climate change.
How trading works: a simplified hypothetical example.
Historically installation A and installation B both emit 210 tonnes of CO2 per year. Under the EU ’s allocation process they are given 200 allowances each. At the end of the first year, emissions of 180Mt were recorded for installation A as it installed an energy efficient boiler at the beginning of the year which reduced its CO2 emissions. It is now free to sell its surplus allowances on the carbon market.
Installation B however emitted 220Mt CO2 because it needed to increase its production capacity and it was too expensive for it to invest in energy efficiency technology.
Therefore, installation B bought allowances from the market, which had been made available because installation A has been able to sell its additional allowances.
The net effect is that the investment in carbon reduction occurs in the cheapest place, and CO2 emissions are limited to the 400 allowances issued to both installations.
Delivery phases of the Emissions Trading System.
To date, 3 operational phases of the EU ETS have been delivered or agreed although it is envisaged the scheme will continue beyond 2020:
Phase I (1 January 2005 to 31 December 2007)
This phase is complete. Further details around this phase can be viewed on the National Archives version of the DECC: EU ETS Phase I web page.
Phase II (1 January 2008 to 31 December 2018)
Phase II of the EU ETS coincided with the first Kyoto Commitment Period. Phase II built on the lessons from the first phase, and was broadened to cover CO2 emissions from glass, mineral wool, gypsum, flaring from offshore oil and gas production, petrochemicals, carbon black and integrated steelworks.
In Phase II, each Member State developed a National Allocation Plan (NAP ), which set out the total quantity of allowances that the Member State intended to issue during that phase and how it proposed to distribute those allowances to each of its operators covered by the System. Each NAP had to be approved by the European Commission. The approved UK Phase II NAP was published on 16 March 2007.
Further details around this phase can be viewed on the National Archives version of the National Archives version of the DECC: EU ETS Phase 2 web page.
Phase III (1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020)
The current phase of the EU ETS builds upon the previous two phases and is significantly revised to make a greater contribution to tackling climate change including: an EU - wide cap on the number of available allowances and an increase in auctioning of those allowances, as well as the UK’s scheme to lower compliance costs for small emitters and hospitals.
The EU cap will reduce the number of available allowances by 1.74% each year, delivering an overall reduction of 21% below 2005 verified emissions by 2020. The trajectory will be calculated from a departure point of the mid-point of Phase II and will describe a declining cap from 2018 onwards.
Free allocation of allowances.
All sectors covered by the EU ETS , with the exception of most of the EU power sector, are provided with a free allocation of allowances in order to assist with their transition towards a low carbon economy.
In addition, industrial sectors at significant risk of competition from countries without similar carbon costs (see section on carbon leakage in the EU ETS for more information) are eligible to receive a higher proportion of allowances for free.
In 2018, Member States were required to submit to the European Commission a list of the preliminary number of free allowances to be issued to each industrial installation in Phase III, referred to as ‘National Implementation Measures’ or ‘NIMs ’. The UK submitted its NIMs to the European Commission on 12 December 2018, and subsequently submitted modified NIMs in April 2018.
On 5 September 2018 the European Commission announced completion of the process to check and confirm the free allocation of EU ETS allowances in each Member States’ NIMs . It also announced that a cross sectoral correction factor was required to ensure that free allocation across the EU remains within the cap set in the ETS Directive. The factor reduced the preliminary allocation for each EU ETS installation by 5.73% in 2018, rising to 17.56% in 2020. The average reduction of allocation is therefore 11.58% over the period 2018-2020.
The first list below shows free allocation figures in Phase III for each industrial installation in the UK, as approved by the European Commission on 18 December 2018. The second list shows updated free allocation figures for Phase III, taking into account any changes to the allocation agreed in the UK’s NIMs for individual installations as of 30 April 2017, for instance due to partial cessations, significant capacity reductions or where installations have entered the EU ETS (new entrants). This list will be updated on an annual basis to take into account further changes to allocation over the course of the phase.
Phase III free allocation as approved in the UK National Implementation Measures.
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UK National Allocation Table: Phase III free allocation including changes to allocation: June 2017.
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UK National Allocation Table: Phase III National Allocation including changes: April 2018.
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UK National Allocation Table: Phase III National Allocation including changes: April 2018.
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UK National Allocation Table: Phase III National Allocation including changes: April 2017.
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Carbon leakage and the EU ETS.
Carbon leakage is a term used to describe the prospect of an increase in global greenhouse gas emissions when a company shifts production or investment outside the EU because - in the absence of an legally binding international climate agreement - they are unable to pass on the cost increases induced by the EU ETS to their customers without significant loss of market share.
The best way to address carbon leakage would be a legally binding international climate agreement. This would create a level playing field for industry inside and outside the EU with respect to accounting for the costs of carbon.
In the meantime, the EU ETS provides 2 mechanisms to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage. First, sectors deemed to be at significant risk of carbon leakage are eligible to receive 100% free allocation of allowances up to the sector’s benchmark. This is a significant source of relief, as sectors not deemed at risk will receive 80% of their allocation for free in 2018, declining annually to 30% in 2020 with a view to reaching 0% (ie full auctioning) in 2027.
The second mechanism allows Member States to compensate sectors at significant risk of carbon leakage as a result of indirect EU ETS costs (ie through EU ETS - related increases in electricity prices), provided that schemes are designed within the framework set by the European Commission (see section on indirect carbon leakage compensation scheme for more information).
The UK government strongly supports the principle of free allocation in the absence of an international climate agreement. We believe that the proportionate free allocation of allowances gives relief to sectors at significant risk of carbon leakage, without raising barriers to international trade. We are concerned however that those most at risk may not be compensated sufficiently in the future if current EU ETS rules are not reformed for Phase IV of the EU ETS .
The UK government recognises industry concerns around competitiveness and carbon leakage and is committed to ensuring that sectors genuinely at significant risk of carbon leakage are protected from this risk. In June 2017, we published a research project commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and undertaken by Vivid Economics and Ecofys, which investigates the occurrence of carbon leakage so far and the fundamental drivers of carbon leakage for a selection of industrial sectors and assesses the measures in place for its mitigation.
The report models the risk of carbon leakage for 24 industrial sectors, and was produced in consultation with industry stakeholders. Modelling analysis shows that in the absence of any mitigating policy measures (such as free allocation of allowances), no allowance for carbon abatement potential, and no increase in carbon regulation outside of the European Union, a number of sectors are at risk of leakage. Given these assumptions, the modelling analysis shows higher rates of carbon leakage than would be expected to occur in reality. The views expressed in the report are those of its writers, and do not represent an official position of the UK government.
The final report, case studies and associated peer review are available:
Assessment of carbon leakage status for the free allocation of allowances.
Sectors at risk of carbon leakage are assessed against a set of criteria and thresholds set out in the EU ETS Directive. The list of sectors deemed at risk of leakage for the period 2018-2017 were agreed through the EU comitology procedure in December 2009, with additions to the list made in subsequent European Commission Decisions.
The EU ETS Directive allows for a review of sectors at risk every five years, with the possibility of adding sectors to the list on annual, ad hoc basis. On 5 May 2017, the European Commission published its draft list of sectors for the period 2018-19, based on the quantitative and qualitative criteria set out in the ETS Directive. The draft carbon leakage list will be presented to the EU Climate Change Committee for vote shortly, after which it must be sent to the European Parliament and the Council for three months scrutiny before adoption.
On 31 August 2018, the UK responded to the European Commission’s consultation on the methodology for determination of the carbon leakage list for 2018 to 2019.
Indirect carbon leakage compensation scheme.
In the 2018 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced that the government intended to implement measures to reduce the impact of policy on the costs of electricity for the most electricity-intensive industries, beginning in 2018 and worth around £250 million over the Spending Review period.
As part of this, the government has committed to compensate the most electricity-intensive businesses to help offset the indirect cost of the Carbon Price Floor and the EU ETS , subject to state aid guidelines. In the 2017 Budget, the Chancellor announced that compensation for the indirect costs of the Carbon Price Floor and the EU ETS would be extended to 2019 to 2020.
The European Commission adopted revised State Aid guidelines on compensation for the indirect costs of the EU ETS in June 2018. These guidelines list the sectors deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage due to indirect emissions costs, and provide details of the maximum levels of compensation that can be made available to them. Any Member State compensation scheme must be designed within the framework set by the European Commission.
In October 2018, DECC and BIS launched the energy intensive industries compensation scheme consultation, which set out our proposals for the eligibility and design of the compensation package.
The consultation, which closed in December 2018, provided an opportunity for all those interested in the package to comment on the proposals, helping us ensure that compensation is targeted at those companies who are most at risk of carbon leakage as a result of energy and climate change policies.
Following detailed consideration of the responses and state aid clearance for the EU ETS compensation package, in May 2018 we published the government’s response to the consultation and the final compensation scheme design for the EU ETS . The UK started making payments in respect of indirect costs of the EU ETS in 2018.
For Carbon Price Floor compensation, which remains subject to state aid approval from the European Commission, we expect to publish guidance later in the summer and begin payments shortly thereafter.
New Entrants Reserve.
The New Entrants Reserve (NER ) is a set aside of EU allowances, reserved for new operators or existing operators who have significantly increased capacity. The UK’s EU ETS Regulators are responsible for administering and assessing all NER applications.
Further information on allowances can be found on the EU ETS : allowances page.
Complying with the EU ETS.
The EU ETS Regulators are responsible for enforcing compliance with the EU ETS Regulations, including operational functions such as granting and maintaining permits and emissions plans (for aviation), monitoring and reporting (including monitoring plans), assessing verified emission reports (and tonne-kilometre reports), assessing applications to the NER , determining reductions in allocations as a result of changes in capacity or cessation of activities, exchanging of information with UKAS on verifier activities.
For the purpose of calculating civil penalties, BEIS determine the value of the EU ETS carbon price used by the regulator. The determination is published in November each year:
On 7 August 2018, we launched a consultation on a number of technical amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2018 so as to simplify and harmonize EU ETS penalties in the transition to Phase III, improve clarity and reduce the burden for businesses. The consultation closed on 19 September 2018.
For more information on how to comply with EU ETS please visit:
Monitoring, reporting, verification and accreditation.
The European Commission’s Guidance on the Accreditation and Verification Regulation aims to help operators of all stationary installations, aviation operators, verification bodies and regulators perform verifications consistently throughout the EU . It provides practical information and advice on the process and requirements for annual verification required by the EU ETS Directive, the European Commission’s Monitoring and Reporting Regulation and Greenhouse Gas permits/monitoring plans/tonne-kilometre plans.
Finding an accredited EU ETS verifier in the UK.
The UKAS list does not include verifiers accredited by other national accreditation bodies and under Phase III rules there is no ‘registration’ or acceptance procedure for non-UK verifiers. All verifiers are required to demonstrate that they are either accredited (or certified) in accordance with the Accreditation and Verification Regulation. Operators are responsible for ensuring that their verifier is accredited for the relevant scope of work. Details of a verifier’s scope of accreditation can be found on the verifier’s accreditation certificate.
Include the following information in your email:
name of verifier organisation country accreditation identification number a copy of your accreditation certificate full name and email address of the main point of contact (this user will have the responsibility for managing other users for this verifier)
Once the ETSWAP administrator has approved your request for access, ETSWAP will send you an email with the login details for your individual user account.
To apply for a verifier Registry account, email etregistryhelp@environment-agency. gov. uk for an application pack.
Further guidance.
Using UK greenhouse gas inventory data in EU ETS monitoring and reporting: the country-specific factor list.
The European Commission’s Regulation on Monitoring and Reporting allows nationally reported data to be used as default factors in specific circumstances.
Carbon emission factors and calorific values from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory (AEA-Ricardo) are available for annual emissions reporting for the EU ETS :
Emission factors and calorific values for 2017.
MS Excel Spreadsheet , 81.7KB.
The national factors are Tier 2 and Tier 2a emission factors and net calorific values for specific fuels used by particular industries.
The data have largely been extracted from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory that is presented on an annual basis to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC ). The Greenhouse Gas Inventory is developed independently to the EU Emissions Trading System. This data means the data referred to in Article 31(1) of the Monitoring and Reporting Regulation.
The factors in these tables should only be used in accordance with the requirements in an installation’s approved monitoring plan, which is part of the Greenhouse Gas permit.
Tables for previous years are available as follows:
EU ETS non-compliance.
The EU ETS Directive requires Member States to put in place a system of penalties which is effective, proportionate and dissuasive but the nature of the penalties is largely left to Member State discretion (with the exception of the penalty for failure to surrender sufficient allowances in certain circumstances).
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System Regulations 2018 set out the civil penalties to which a person is liable if they do not comply with the EU ETS . DECC has produced the guidance below for the offshore oil and gas industry detailing the Department’s approach to enforcement and sanctions.
The Regulations provide for the right of appeal against decisions of an EU ETS Regulator. In England and Wales appeals for both operators of stationary installations and aircraft operators, as well as offshore installations, are heard by the First-tier Tribunal.
Appeals in Northern Ireland are heard and determined by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC). In Scotland, the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) in the Scottish Government hears and determines appeals on behalf of the Scottish Ministers.
Different arrangements apply to appeals brought by aviation operators against a penalty notice served under the Aviation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2018 for the 2018 scheme year. The relevant rules under the 2018 Regulations continue to apply in relation to any appeal brought against any decision made or notice served under the 2018 Regulations. These provide that the appeal body is the Secretary of State or an independent person appointed by the Secretary of State.
Appeal Determinations.
2018 scheme year: Six appeals determinations have been made under these Regulations:
Aviation in the EU ETS.
The EU Emissions Trading System requires aircraft operators to monitor and report emissions of CO2 and surrender the equivalent number of allowances. The scheme is designed to be a cost-effective means of tackling the CO2 emissions from aviation, enabling the aviation industry to grow sustainably whilst delivering emission reductions. The scheme applies to all flights between airports in the European Economic Area.
The key changes are:
an Intra-European Economic Area (EEA) scope for the Aviation ETS from 1 January 2018 until 31 December 2018 a deferral of compliance deadlines for 2018 emissions until March and April 2018 an exemption for non-commercial operators emitting less than 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per year until 2020 simplified procedures for operators emitting less than 25,000 tonnes of CO2 per year the number of free allowances issued and allowances auctioned are reduced in proportion to the reduction in scope.
We welcome views from any organisation or individual, and the consultation will be of particular interest to aircraft operators, aerodrome operators, verifiers, other participants in the EU ETS and environmental groups.
Regulation of aircraft operators’ emissions.
Each aircraft operator is administered by a single member state. The European Commission produces an annual list showing which operators are administered by which member state.
You can find out more about what operators need to do to comply with the scheme on the EU ETS : operators and activities affected web page.
Auctioning.
Free allocation to aircraft operators.
The European Commission enacted legislation in April 2017 changing the scope of EUETS with regards to international aviation emissions (Regulation (EU ) No 421/2017 amending Directive 2003/87/EC ). As a result of the change in scope of Aviation EU ETS , the UK is obligated to recalculate the allocation of free allowances due to eligible aircraft operators. This recalculation has been done in accordance with the Commission guidance.
The table includes all operators who were previously due free allowances and indicates their new free allowance allocation under the reduced scope. Operators who ceased operations have been removed from this list.
Operators who are now exempt under the new non-commercial de minimis (under 1,000tCO2 per annum calculated on the basis of full scope) still appear in this table. However owing to their exempt status these operators are not due free allowances and as such their Aircraft Operator Holding Account (AOHA) will be marked as ‘excluded’ in the registry – meaning that no transactions can be carried out and no free allowances will be deposited.
If you believe you are no longer due any allowances as a result of the changes or you wish to seek further clarification as to your new free allowance allocation please contact the Environment Agency aviation helpdesk ETAviationHelp@environment-agency. gov. uk.
Historic information.
Please visit the EU ETS legislation page to see UK legislation and EU Regulations.
Please visit the National Archives version of the Aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System web pages to see information relating to aviation/aviation appeals previously available on the DECC website.
Small Emitter and Hospital Opt-out Scheme.
The UK’s Small Emitter and Hospital Opt-out Scheme allows eligible installations to be excluded from Phase 3 (2018 to 2020) of the EU ETS . The scheme has been approved by the European Commission.
Article 27 of the EU ETS Directive enables small emitters and hospitals to be excluded from the EU ETS , with the primary aim of reducing the administrative burdens on these installations. This acknowledges that the administrative costs faced by smaller emitters under the EU ETS are disproportionately high per tonne of CO2, in comparison to the costs for large emitting installations. The Directive requires that excluded installations are subject to a domestic scheme that will deliver an equivalent contribution to emission reductions as the EU ETS .
The UK’s opt-out scheme was designed in consultation with industry and aims to offer a simple, deregulatory alternative to the EU ETS whilst maintaining the incentives for emission reductions. We estimate that the scheme will offer savings of up to £39 million to industry over Phase III.
The opt-out scheme offers deregulatory savings through:
the replacement of a requirement to surrender allowances with an emissions reduction target simplified monitoring, reporting and verification requirements (MRV), including the removal of the requirement for third party verification no requirement to hold an active registry account less burdensome rules for target adjustment following an increase in installation capacity.
Further details on the scheme are contained in the documents listed below. Please note that these documents will be updated later in 2018. The consultations referred to in the ‘Frequently asked questions’ document are now closed.
Participants in the opt-out scheme.
The application period for the opt-out scheme ran from 23 May to 18 July 2018. Operators of 247 installations were approved to participate in the opt-out scheme by the European Commission as excluded from the EU ETS .
The EU ETS Directive does not provide for further installations to join the opt-out scheme.
Previous information on the development of the scheme including, the application period, policy development and the small emitters workshop held on the 12 June 2018, can be viewed on the National Archives website.
Documentar informações.
Published: 22 January 2018.
Updated: 31 July 2017.
31 July 2017 Emission factors and calorific values for 2017. 27 April 2017 UK National Allocation Table: Phase III National Allocation including changes: April 2017. 21 September 2018 Determination of 4 appeals under the Aviation EU ETS. 28 July 2018 Emission factors and calorific values for 2018 29 April 2018 UK National Allocation Table: Phase III National Allocation including changes: April 2018 29 April 2018 UK National Allocation Table: Phase III National Allocation including changes: April 2018 23 October 2018 Jet Airways civil penalty appeal determination added 20 October 2017 Addition of EU ETS strategy and reform paper 26 August 2017 Addition of free aviation allowance table 16 July 2017 Added information regarding Phase IV. 15 May 2017 Peer review of Ecofys cap-setting report published. 30 April 2017 Updated EU ETS National Allocation table published. 7 August 2018 Details of consultation added under "Complying with the EU ETS". 13 May 2018 The Government response to the consultation on Implementing the Aviation Emissions Trading System ‘stop the clock’ Decision in UK Regulations has been published today. 4 March 2018 Includes new information about a carbon leakage call for evidence. 31 January 2018 Update to include the recent European Commission announcement on NIMS 22 January 2018 First published.
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Cap-and-Trade Program.
This website provides information about California's Cap-and-Trade Program that took effect in early 2018. The enforceable compliance obligation began on January 1, 2018, for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Program Implementation Activities:
Regulation, Guidance, Market Information, Forms, FAQs & Meetings.
Current Regulation and Proposed Regulatory Amendments:
Guidance Documents:
Regulatory Guidance Document Regulatory Guidance on Compliance Instrument Transfers Corporate Disclosures Guidance GHG Emissions Reporting Guidance Auction Application Attestation Guidance Early Action Transition Guidance Guidance on Treatment of Unsold Allowances ( updated December 1, 2017) CITSS User Guides and Reference Documents.
Publicly Available Market Information:
Download Forms:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Fact Sheets and Policy Statements:
Program Overview FAQ on Resource Shuffling Protecting the Security of Confidential and Personal Information (Policy Statement) Market Oversight and Enforcement (Fact Sheet) Facts: Fuels under the Cap Guidance for Allowance Consignment to Auction FAQ for Fuel Purchasers Linkage Fact Sheet (updated December 1, 2017) FAQ on Multiple Vintage Allowances Offered in the Current Auction Holding Limit Fact Sheet (updated December 1, 2017) Limited Exemption Fact Sheet.
Public Workshops, Training Webinars and Advisory Groups:
Public Workshops and Meetings Compliance Instrument Tracking System Service (CITSS) Webinars Market Simulation Group (MSG) Emissions Market Assessment Committee (EMAC) Economic and Allocation Advisory Committee (EAAC) Cap-and-Trade Program Compliance Training (PDF) Cap-and-Trade Program Compliance Training (Audio - choose save to play slideshow)
Information about.
Informações básicas.
The AB 32 Scoping Plan identifies a cap-and-trade program as one of the strategies California will employ to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cause climate change. This program will help put California on the path to meet its goal of reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020, and ultimately achieving an 80% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050. Under cap-and-trade, an overall limit on GHG emissions from capped sectors will be established by the cap-and-trade program and facilities subject to the cap will be able to trade permits (allowances) to emit GHGs.
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has designed a California cap-and-trade program that is enforceable and meets the requirements of AB 32. The development of this program included a multi-year stakeholder process and consideration of potential impacts on disproportionately impacted communities. The program starts on January 1, 2018, with an enforceable compliance obligation beginning with the 2018 GHG emissions.
California is working closely with British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba through the Western Climate Initiative to develop harmonized cap and trade programs that will deliver cost-effective emission reductions. The WCI jurisdictions have formed a non-profit corporation, WCI, Inc. to provide coordinated and cost-effective administrative and technical support for its participating jurisdictions' emissions trading programs. Just as with other voluntary agreements that ARB establishes with local air districts, states, federal government, and contractors, ARB's agreement with WCI, Inc. does not confer any decision making authority; decisions concerning the ARB's cap-and-trade regulation are made by ARB at the direction of the Board. More details on the organization and operation of WCI, Inc., can be found at: wci-inc/
What is Cap-and-Trade?
Cap-and-trade is a market based regulation that is designed to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) from multiple sources. Cap-and-trade sets a firm limit or cap on GHGs and minimize the compliance costs of achieving AB 32 goals. The cap will decline approximately 3 percent each year beginning in 2018. Trading creates incentives to reduce GHGs below allowable levels through investments in clean technologies. With a carbon market, a price on carbon is established for GHGs. Market forces spur technological innovation and investments in clean energy. Cap-and-trade is an environmentally effective and economically efficient response to climate change.
For regulation or program questions contact the Cap-and-Trade Hotline at (916) 322-2037.
News or Press inquiries should be directed to ARB's Public Information Office at (916) 322-2990.
February 2018 Joint Auction Notice is Posted California Post Joint Auction Public Proceeds Report Summary of Auction Proceeds CITSS Linkage Including California, Quйbec, and Ontario December 2017 Market Notice Vintage 2018 Allowance Allocation Summary 2018 Annual Auction Reserve Price Notice 2018 Joint Auction Summary of Expected Dates 2018 Annual Allowance Price Contaiment Reserve Notice 2018 Reserve Sale Summary of Potential Dates December 2017 Reserve Sale Not Offered Guidance on Treatment of Unsold Allowances (updated December 1, 2017) Linkage Fact Sheet (updated December 1, 2017) Holding Limit Fact Sheet (updated December 1, 2017) Limited Exemption Fact Sheet.
The Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices under.
the umbrella of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Kazakhstan.
Environment & Climate Change Law 2017.
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1.1 What is the basis of environmental policy in your jurisdiction and which agencies/bodies administer and enforce environmental law?
The basis of the environmental policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan is: to protect and improve the environment for the life of each person; elimination of destructive processes in the environment posed in particular by the activity of a person; balanced use of natural resources; and, of course, the use of new environmentally friendly technologies and equipment in the manufacturing industry. The Government of Kazakhstan is developing the main directions of state policy in this sphere: in particular, the Ministry of Energy performs state ecological control; and supervision over the implementation of environmental legislation is provided by the Prosecutor’s Office of Kazakhstan.
1.2 What approach do such agencies/bodies take to the enforcement of environmental law?
The above-mentioned bodies, with state coercive measures, monitor and supervise the execution of environmental legislation, in particular the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and, of course, can bring the offender to administrative liability, which means a warning, a fine, suspension of the environmental permit or even its denial. In addition to administrative liability, the offender may be brought to criminal liability, which means a fine, correctional or community service, restraint, deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities, arrest and, as the highest form of punishment – deprivation of liberty up to eight years. Of course, these are not the only measures intended to ensure environmental compliance; in addition, the Government uses public funds to arrange public service advertising in mass media and the internet, devoted to statutory compliance and warning of adverse actions.
1.3 To what extent are public authorities required to provide environment-related information to interested persons (including members of the public)?
According to Kazakhstan legislation, individuals and legal entities have the right to free access to public government, electronic information resources containing environmental information, and moreover, government bodies and officials performing public functions, as well as individuals and entities that provide services to the public on the basis of a public contract relevant to the environment, are required to provide this information. To get the information related to environmental protection, it is necessary to make a request.
2.1 When is an environmental permit required, and may environmental permits be transferred from one person to another?
First of all, the Republic of Kazakhstan provides two types of environmental permits, environmental emission permits and the integrated environmental permit. The first type of permit is needed for natural resource users that discharge into the environment. The second type of permit is similar to the first, which also confirms the right of a natural resource user to perform emissions into the environment, but there is a condition, which is the implementation of the best available technologies and compliance with technical specific emission standards, which are set by the environmental legislation of Kazakhstan. A transfer of permit is not possible, only possible reissuance in case of reorganisation of a natural resource user (change of name or type of legal entity).
2.2 What rights are there to appeal against the decision of an environmental regulator not to grant an environmental permit or in respect of the conditions contained in an environmental permit?
If the refusal to grant an environmental permit was not motivated, in order to appeal the decision of the state body, the applicant may apply to the court according to the rules of the jurisdiction, meaning to bring a case to court by the location of the body whose actions are challenged.
2.3 Is it necessary to conduct environmental audits or environmental impact assessments for particularly polluting industries or other installations/projects?
We believe that it is necessary to carry out environmental audits, because if the check isn’t carried out in accordance with the rules and assignments of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, it may badly affect the long-term outlook for environmental protection, and lead to pollution of the environment. In Sec. 2, Art. 81 of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, there are bases for mandatory environmental audit of physical and legal entities, which are: significant environmental damage caused by economic and other activities of individuals and legal entities, which should be documented; bankruptcy of natural resource users carrying out hazardous types of economic and other activity; and reorganisation of a natural resource user carrying out environmentally hazardous types of activity. An environmental impact assessment is also important because it assesses the impact on human health, fauna, air, surface and underground water, landscape, social sphere, etc.
2.4 What enforcement powers do environmental regulators have in connection with the violation of permits?
Suspension or withdrawal of a permit is imposed by a judge for an administrative violation which was committed during the exercise of activities, or committing any specific action; if, of course, violation of a permit is fully proven, an administrative fine may be applied.
3.1 How is waste defined and do certain categories of waste involve additional duties or controls?
Production and consumption waste is divided into hazardous and non-hazardous types. There are three levels of hazard waste: green (G code); amber (A code); and red (R code). According to Art. 287 of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, hazardous waste may contain one, two or more substances that are regulated in this article.
A hazardous wastes passport is required in the course of economic activity which results in the formation of hazardous waste. The hazard level of waste affects the size of tax payments for waste disposal in the environment.
3.2 To what extent is a producer of waste allowed to store and/or dispose of it on the site where it was produced?
Temporary storage of waste, where it has been produced, is allowed in non-contaminated ambient conditions for a limited period of time. Waste is permitted to be disposed at the site if the waste generator has an environmental emissions permit.
3.3 Do producers of waste retain any residual liability in respect of the waste where they have transferred it to another person for disposal/treatment off-site (e. g. if the transferee/ultimate disposer goes bankrupt/disappears)?
Transfer of waste from producer to third parties also means transfer of ownership of the waste. The subject, who has lost ownership of the waste, loses all rights and related obligations in respect of the waste; if the subject does not have the rights and duties, it also loses responsibility.
3.4 To what extent do waste producers have obligations regarding the take-back and recovery of their waste?
According to Art. 285-1 of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, individuals and legal entities which carry out production on the territory of Kazakhstan and import into Kazakhstan, products covered by the extended obligations of manufacturers, are obliged to ensure the collection, transport, processing, disposal, use and (or) disposal of waste, formed after the product loses its consumer properties. According to this article, manufacturers can implement them on their own, or may enter into an agreement with the operator of extended obligations of manufacturers on the organisation of collection, transport, processing, disposal, use and (or) disposal of waste, formed after the product loses its consumer properties.
4.1 What types of liabilities can arise where there is a breach of environmental laws and/or permits, and what defences are typically available?
If the person has violated environmental regulations, this person is obliged to compensate the damage, in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In addition, a court may suspend or even cancel an environmental permit and impose a fine. If the violation of environmental regulations falls within the scope of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, then the offender may be sentenced to a fine, corrective labour, restriction or deprivation of liberty, as well as deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities.
Circumstances exempting from liability are provided in Articles 7, 8, 9, Art. 321 of the Environmental Code of Kazakhstan, which say that the following cases are not regarded as damage to the environment:
excess placement of waste and excess discharge of pollutants into objects, equipped and designed to contain waste and sewage, to prevent contamination of the earth’s surface, subsurface and groundwater; cases of contact with chemicals or pouring waste water on production facilities bounded with protective structures to prevent contamination of the earth’s surface, subsurface and groundwater; and cases of deviation from the development programmes of processing of associated gas, resulting in unauthorised and excessive emissions.
4.2 Can an operator be liable for environmental damage notwithstanding that the polluting activity is operated within permit limits?
The company may claim damages from the operator, if the operator has not appropriately rendered its services. In addition, if the company’s activity is performed on the basis of an environmental permit and has still caused damage to the environment and public health, it means that an environmental impact assessment was conducted inappropriately; this may also apply to an incorrectly conducted environmental audit.
4.3 Can directors and officers of corporations attract personal liabilities for environmental wrongdoing, and to what extent may they get insurance or rely on other indemnity protection in respect of such liabilities?
Directors and officers of corporations may carry administrative and criminal liability if their act is subject to the rules of the Administrative and Criminal codes. Environmental audits and environmental impact assessments should be carried out in companies, in order to minimise environmental offences. Labour agreements settled with the employees of the company should be drafted in accordance with the Labour Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and should include a clause on full liability for damages.
4.4 What are the different implications from an environmental liability perspective of a share sale on the one hand and an asset purchase on the other?
In case of acquisition of company stock, the acquirer becomes a member of the company or shareholder, depending on the type of economic activity. Upon the stock sale, the seller has to compile a list of debts, which includes obligations to damages compensation as a consequence of environmental offences. Debt transfer is performed with the permission of the creditor.
4.5 To what extent may lenders be liable for environmental wrongdoing and/or remediation costs?
In fact, offenders bear the responsibility for environmental offences, whether directly or indirectly. Only in a case where the creditor is an accomplice to the offence and it is proved that he is the offender, is he obliged to pay damages.
5.1 What is the approach to liability for contamination (including historic contamination) of soil or groundwater?
If the land or groundwater have been contaminated, then in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the offender is obliged to repair the damage that has been caused to the owner (individuals, legal entities, administrative-territorial units, states).
Historically contaminated land, for example, the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. According to official statistics, 1,323 million people were declared the victims of nuclear tests, but only 1,057 million people received the certificate confirming their rights. According to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “On social protection of citizens suffered from nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site”, there are measures of social protection: a lump sum payment of the state monetary compensation to citizens living and residing in areas exposed to radioactive fallout during nuclear tests; supplementary pension for citizens who retire; disability pension; and loss of breadwinner, if there is a causal link with the testing of nuclear weapons. Approximately 10,536.9 million KZT was allocated from the republican budget for lump sum compensations during the period between 1994 and 2005. However, it should be noted that the statutory social allowances and benefits do not provide a solution to problems in the region such as public health improvement, providing quality drinking water, and others.
5.2 How is liability allocated where more than one person is responsible for the contamination?
If more than one person is guilty of violations of environmental legislation, then the responsibility will be divided according to the degree of guilt of the participants in the offence. Compensation for damage is done voluntarily or involuntarily by a court decision.
5.3 If a programme of environmental remediation is ‘agreed’ with an environmental regulator, can the regulator come back and require additional works or can a third party challenge the agreement?
Environmental remediation programmes should be agreed with the authorised body for the protection of the environment. Conditions and types of work should be agreed within an environmental remediation programme. Then, if the authorised body later identifies any environmental pollution which has been caused by the company which was the initiator of the programme, it may require additional measures for elimination of the environmental pollution.
5.4 Does a person have a private right of action to seek contribution from a previous owner or occupier of contaminated land when that owner caused, in whole or in part, contamination; and to what extent is it possible for a polluter to transfer the risk of contaminated land liability to a purchaser?
A person who has suffered damage may apply to the court for the protection of violated rights. And, as mentioned earlier, the offender may compensate the damage voluntarily or by court order. In fact, the obligation to compensate damage should be transferred to the buyer of the land with the transfer of ownership which means the obligation of complete cessation of harm.
5.5 Does the government have authority to obtain from a polluter, monetary damages for aesthetic harms to public assets, e. g. rivers?
In accordance with the current legislation, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan does not have such powers.
One of the fundamental principles of the Water Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the inevitability of punishment and compensation for the damage caused by violation of the Water Code, which means that at the request of the state, the offender is obliged to pay compensation for the damage, by the implementation of measures to clean-up the river, in this case, from contamination.
6.1 What powers do environmental regulators have to require production of documents, take samples, conduct site inspections, interview employees, etc.?
Powers and authorities are clearly stated in the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Government authorities have the following rights: to communicate with users of natural resources; enter the territory of individuals and legal entities with instrumentation and sampling equipment; to request and receive documents; results of analyses; and to make orders to eliminate violations, etc.
7.1 If pollution is found on a site, or discovered to be migrating off-site, must it be disclosed to an environmental regulator or potentially affected third parties?
If an accident involving the emission of pollutants into the environment has occurred on a natural resource user’s site, one is obliged to inform the authorised body.
7.2 When and under what circumstances does a person have an affirmative obligation to investigate land for contamination?
In accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, individuals and legal entities, as well as the public authorities, may carry out the inspection of land for contamination. For example, an environmental impact assessment is compulsory for all types of business and other activities, if the activity has a direct or indirect impact on the environment, life and health. Also, an environmental audit is carried out by analysing reports on the environmental impact. To perform an environmental audit, according to the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the auditing organisation and the entity have to conclude a contract for an environmental audit.
7.3 To what extent is it necessary to disclose environmental problems, e. g. by a seller to a prospective purchaser in the context of merger and/or takeover transactions?
The legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan does not have a provision on the seller’s obligation to reveal all the circumstances of the transaction; in this case, the environmental problems of the object. The seller is obliged to provide materials related to environmental issues at the request of the buyer. If the transaction was completed and the buyer did not know about the environmental problems of the object, the contract may be revoked, as the buyer was misinformed.
8.1 Is it possible to use an environmental indemnity to limit exposure for actual or potential environment-related liabilities, and does making a payment to another person under an indemnity in respect of a matter (e. g. remediation) discharge the indemnifier’s potential liability for that matter?
If the company has been audited by the authorised state body, and any violations are discovered, then the authorised state body has a right to impose a fine. An official of the company that is responsible for compliance with the environmental legislation of Kazakhstan is fully responsible in case of environmental damage. If there was damage to the environment, then in addition to a fine and compensation for damage, the company may be obliged to carry out any procedures to prevent this offence and in the long term, to prevent the next.
8.2 Is it possible to shelter environmental liabilities off balance sheet, and can a company be dissolved in order to escape environmental liabilities?
Environmental liabilities cannot be sheltered off balance sheet; at the moment according to the law, it is impossible to remove an obligation from the company’s balance sheet. Regarding the second question, the company cannot be dissolved in order to avoid responsibility. Winding-up of a company is only possible after full repayment of the debt or the performance of any environmental liabilities.
8.3 Can a person who holds shares in a company be held liable for breaches of environmental law and/or pollution caused by the company, and can a parent company be sued in its national court for pollution caused by a foreign subsidiary/affiliate?
In the Republic of Kazakhstan, members or shareholders of the Company shall not be liable for the obligations of the companies. If deliberate or false bankruptcy has been proven, the founder (participant) and (or) officials of the debtor shall bear subsidiary liability to the creditors of the insolvent debtors, with property belonging to them. If a member of the company has committed actions that eventually led to the bankruptcy of the company, and the company is lacking in funds, then this person will be held responsible to the creditors.
8.4 Are there any laws to protect “whistle-blowers” who report environmental violations/matters?
Protecting whistle-blowers is enshrined in the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan. According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, if the accusation of a whistle-blower is not false, then a person involved in criminal proceedings, their family, close relatives and maybe the witnesses and their property can be protected from attacks of the defendant. People who have reported environmental violations are protected from liability for environmental offences, even if they are not involved in criminal proceedings.
8.5 Are group or “class” actions available for pursuing environmental claims, and are penal or exemplary damages available?
Several claimants are allowed to claim, against one or more defendants.
In Kazakhstan, compensation is allowed only for redress.
8.6 Do individuals or public interest groups benefit from any exemption from liability to pay costs when pursuing environmental litigation?
According to Art. 541 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, plaintiffs are exempt from state fees for any claims for recovery of funds in the revenue of the state on account of damages caused to the state in violation of environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Also, the plaintiffs in the claim in respect of pecuniary damages in case of violation of environmental laws, are exempt from state fees. The plaintiffs in this matter may be natural and legal persons.
9.1 What emissions trading schemes are in operation in your jurisdiction and how is the emissions trading market developing there?
According to legislation, enterprises engaged in: oil and gas, power generation; mining; metallurgical; and chemical and processing (cement, lime, plaster and brick) industries, with carbon dioxide emissions excessing 20,000 tonnes per year, are required to obtain quotas for greenhouse gas emissions. Quotas for greenhouse gas emissions set by the National Plan for a certain period should not be exceeded.
9.2 Aside from the emissions trading schemes mentioned in question 9.1 above, is there any other requirement to monitor and report greenhouse gas emissions?
According to Art. 105 of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in order to reduce emissions into the environment, the authorised body in the field of environmental protection may introduce market mechanisms, by establishing limits and quotas on emissions into the environment and approval of the order of trading, and commitments to reduce emissions into the environment. Also, ‘nature users’ get the right to an annual quota of emissions into the environment in case of the establishment of such quotas. Companies whose GHG emissions exceed 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the reporting year, are required to obtain a quota. Companies whose annual emissions do not exceed the equivalent of 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, shall, before 1 April of each year, submit to the environmental protection authorities a report on greenhouse gas inventories.
9.3 What is the overall policy approach to climate change regulation in your jurisdiction?
Of course, in Kazakhstan there are rules for monitoring and control of greenhouse gas inventory, the rules approved by order of the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 19, 2018. In addition, there is monitoring of forest ecosystems, mineral resources, groundwater resources, the radiation situation and others.
10.1 What is the experience of asbestos litigation in your jurisdiction?
The use, storage and handling of asbestos must be strictly defined by law, including the Convention “On safety in the use of asbestos”, which Kazakhstan ratified. If the company does not comply with the requirements of Legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and ratified Convention “On safety in the use of asbestos”, in this case, employees are eligible to receive reparation.
10.2 What are the duties of owners/occupiers of premises in relation to asbestos on site?
If the premises are put into operation (an act of commissioning), and they are used for the intended purpose, then there are no specific obligations, if they do not work with asbestos and asbestos-containing products in these premises.
Products produced with the use of asbestos are subject to the law “On safety of chemical products” of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated July 21, 2007 (put into effect on January 1, 2008). It sets out the legal framework to ensure the safety of chemical products for the protection of human life and health, environment and consumer interests in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Also, Kazakhstan has sanitary rules and norms associated with asbestos and asbestos-containing materials. In addition, Kazakhstan has ratified the Convention “On safety in the use of asbestos” in 2018.
11.1 What types of environmental insurance are available in the market, and how big a role does environmental risks insurance play in your jurisdiction?
The aim of environmental insurance is to cover loss or damage due to force majeure . Under current law, the compulsory ecological insurance shall be subject to civil liability of individuals and (or) legal entities carrying out environmentally hazardous types of business and other activities. (Quarrying, having the purpose of mining, with a land area of over 25 hectares; accommodation, storage and use of man-made mineral formations with a harmful effect on the environment, etc.). Insurance helps insured persons at least as something to repair damage caused by force majeure , but usually does not fully cover the amount of the damage.
11.2 What is the environmental insurance claims experience in your jurisdiction?
Paying as little as possible for force majeure is in the interest of any insurance company. However, if there has not been a fact of force majeure , and the offender which caused the damage to the insured person has been clearly defined, then the offender is obliged to compensate the damage, if not the full amount of compensation (it all depends on the factors), voluntarily or by a court.
12.1 Please provide, in no more than 300 words, a summary of any new cases, trends and developments in Environment Law in your jurisdiction.
We believe that the environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan is improving, adding new rules in the laws of the Republic thanks to the international experience in this field. For example: the licensing system, following the example of the European Union; integrated environmental permits, in which emission standards are already established on the basis of targeted environmental conditions; and the application of the best available technologies.
For compliance with environmental legislation, it is necessary to toughen the penalties system; for example, in paragraph 3 of Art. 326 for failure to fulfil conditions of wildlife specified in the environmental permit, coupled with the application of particularly severe damage to the environment, endangering the life and health of the population, this can entail a fine from 30 to 500 MCI (1 MCI = 2,269 tenge ≈ US$ 7, January 2017), which is very cheap, especially for foreign companies. In the area of environmental legislation, large cost penalties are necessary to ensure that in case of a violation of norms, sanctions would be more sensitive to the “pocket” of the company, to prevent subsequent violations of environmental law and force companies to carry out environmental audits and environmental impact assessment.
Also, new articles have been added to Chapter 13: “unauthorised use of mineral resources and the violation of rules of protection of fish stocks”. In the new Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which entered into force on January 1, 2018, and in the new Code of Administrative Offences, which entered into force on January 1, 2018, new rules were introduced in the field of environmental protection. With the introduction of the new Code of Administrative Offences and penalties, the amount of fines has mostly been increased.
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