Od poloviny roku 2018 by mohly přebytečné emisní povolenky EU směřovat do rezervy

Výbor pro životní prostředí (ENVI) dnes v Evropském parlamentu odhlasoval reformu systému emisního obchodování (EU ETS). Jejím základem bude vytvoření takzvané rezervy tržní stability, do které se budou ukládat přebytečné emisní povolenky. Europoslanci v ENVI se postavili za to, aby rezerva začala fungovat 31. prosince 2018, de facto tedy na začátku roku 2019. Evropská komise původně navrhla, aby to bylo až od roku 2021, kdy v ETS začíná nové obchodovací období. Více na EurActiv - ZDE

Tisková zprávy ENVI - EU ETS a Biopaliva:

Environment Committee backs ETS market reserve, advocates early start

A draft law to reform the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), by reducing the surplus of carbon credits available for trading into order to support the price, was backed by Environment Committee MEPs in a vote on Tuesday. They advocated introducing the mechanism early, by the end of 2018, and also proposed preventing the automatic return to the market, from 2019, of a portion of allowances “back loaded” last year in a separate vote.

“This vote sends a strong signal that Parliament is serious about fighting climate change while at the same time bearing in mind the concerns of industry. The reform approved today shows that we can reunite an ambitious climate policy with growth and jobs. The Market Stability Reserve will ensure that CO2 prices spur investments in greater energy efficiency” said Ivo Belet (EPP, BE), who is steering the legislation through Parliament.

“A clear majority of member states share the view of the European Parliament. I am confident we can soon achieve an agreement”, he added.

The proposed law would create a system that automatically takes a portion of ETS allowances off the market and into the reserve if the surplus exceeds a certain threshold. In the opposite scenario, allowances could be returned to the market.

Early start in 2018

MEPs proposed introducing the Market Stability Reserve early, in order reduce the surplus of carbon credits faster. The reserve would be established in 2018 and take effect by 31 December of that year – instead of in 2021 as proposed by the European Commission.

Add “back-loaded” allowances to reserve

As a temporary fix to support the carbon price, the 900 million credits “back-loaded” from 2014-2016, should not be returned to the market from 2019, as initially foreseen, but placed in the reserve instead, say MEPs.

Energy innovation fund

MEPs propose to invest the profits generated by the auctioning of 300 million allowances in a special “Energy Innovation Fund” designed to help industry’s transition to low-carbon technologies.

Next steps

The committee granted Mr Belet a mandate (57 votes in favour, 10 against and 1 abstention) to start negotiations with member states directly, with a view to achieving a final agreement as soon as possible.

Environment Committee backs switchover to advanced biofuels

A draft law to cap the production of traditional biofuels and accelerate the shift to alternative sources, such as seaweed and waste, was approved by the Environment Committee on Tuesday. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that result from the growing use of agricultural land to produce biofuel crops.

"This has been an enormously challenging file. And at the same time a very interesting one. And it's complicated technically and technologically. I love this kind of political challenge and hope we will take it to a good result in the trilogues" said lead MEP Nils Torvalds (ALDE, FI) after the committee’s amendments to the draft law were approved by 39 votes to 26, with 4 abstentions.

Cap first-generation biofuels

Current legislation requires EU member states to ensure that renewable energy accounts for at least 10% of energy consumption in transport by 2020. But in the draft law approved today, MEPs say that first-generation biofuels (from food crops) should not exceed 6% of the final energy consumption in transport by 2020.

Boost advanced biofuels

Advanced biofuels, sourced from seaweed or certain types of waste, should account for at least 1.25% of energy consumption in transport by 2020, MEPs say.

Reduce indirect land use change

Using farmland to produce biofuel crops reduces the area available for food crops. This adds to pressure to free up more land, e.g. through deforestation, to grow more food - a process known as indirect land use change (ILUC). But deforestation in itself increases greenhouse gas emissions, which may cancel out part of the beneficial effects of using biofuels.

Parliament called as long ago as 2008 for the ILUC factor to be taken into account in EU biofuels policy, which has a budget of €10 billion per year.

Next steps

Mr Torvalds received a mandate (46 votes in favour, 20 against and 2 abstentions) to start negotiations with the Latvian Presidency of the Council of Ministers for a possible second reading agreement.