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The Hamburg-Tiefstack coal and gas and steam power plant
Photo: IMAGO/Nikito
The Potsdam climate researcher Ottmar Edenhofer has rated the new EU climate protection package as a "real breakthrough", but sees a need for sharpening.
Of course, the goals could have been even more ambitious, said the director and chief economist of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) on Deutschlandfunk on Monday.
However, it is very important that Europe now has several instruments: in addition to stricter emissions trading for industry and the electricity sector, there is now a second emissions trading system for buildings and transport, and a climate social fund.
These can and must be sharpened later.
In all likelihood, with the agreement at the weekend in Europe, there will be a coal phase-out before 2030, said Edenhofer.
Negotiators from the EU Parliament and the member states had agreed on a reform of EU emissions trading early on Sunday morning.
Accordingly, consumers and companies will have to pay more often for carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the future.
The existing emissions trading for companies that have to buy pollution certificates for CO₂ emissions will be significantly tightened by reducing the number of these licenses faster than previously planned.
This could lead to an increase in the prices of the certificates – and with them the consumer prices for electricity, bricks or other goods whose production emits large amounts of CO₂.
In addition, the system is to be extended to heating buildings and transport.
A similar emissions trading system for buildings and transport has been in effect in Germany since 2021.
After all, there should be a Europe-wide climate social fund.
It is intended to absorb additional consumer spending as a result of the energy transition, such as rising heating costs, and amount to around 86 billion euros.
However, the regulations for emissions trading in the building and transport sectors have so far been “much too soft” – and the new climate social fund is “certainly not lavishly equipped”, criticized Edenhofer.
But it is good that it is being created.
In addition, there are national programs with which consumers can be relieved.
che/dpa-AFX