Climate Action - Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the EU Emissions Trading System: Implementation Appraisal

Briefing 17-09-2015

The EU ETS is the first and largest international trading system for greenhouse gas emission allowances, accounting for over three quarters of international carbon trading. It is part of the climate and energy package, which consists of four pieces of complementary legislation to deliver on the ‘20-20-20 targets’: the EU ETS to cut industrial greenhouse gas emissions; the Effort-Sharing Decision introducing binding national targets for sectors not covered by the EU ETS; the Renewable Energy Directive; and the Geological Storage of CO2 Directive. This briefing is one in a series of 'Implementation Appraisals' on the operation of existing EU legislation in practice. Each such briefing focuses on a specific EU law which is likely to be amended or reviewed as set out in the European Commission’s Annual Work Programme. The Implementation Appraisals aim to provide a succinct overview of material publicly available on the implementation, application and effectiveness of an EU law to date – drawing on available input from the EU institutions and external organisations. They are provided to assist parliamentary committees in their consideration of the new proposals, once tabled.