Climate sceptics hit brick wall on emissions trading: Climate and energy package
Commenting on the European parliament's industry committee vote on amajor block of EU climate and energy package (1), vice-chair of the Greens/EFA Group and industry committee member Rebecca Harms said:
"This is the first time in a long time that the industry committee has got it right in a vote on climate change. Despite concerted efforts from some Conservative members, the climate sceptics have failed to find a majority for a position that would have seen the emissions trading system converted into a windfall profit machine for manufacturing industry.
The committee supports full auctioning of emissions permits from 2020. Sectors truly exposed to 'carbon leakage' and unfair competition will receive specific support, but this must be defined only once we know the outcome of the next international agreement on climate change."
Finnish Green MEP Satu Hassi, vice-chair of the environment committee, added:
"This positive result shows that most members have learned from experience and want an instrument that will protect the climate, not add millions to industry's profits. Auctioning of emissions permits will ensure that the emissions trading system works as it was intended, i.e. to pass a price to market that reflects the environmental impact of carbon emissions, without creating windfall profits at the expense of the consumer.
The industry committee vote also confirmed that all revenues from auctioning should be channelled back to the economy to reduce emissions in Europe or developing countries."
(1) The European parliament's industry committee today voted on its opinion on emissions trading for which the environment committee has the lead.
