Research output by the STG Climate Team
“Europe must bring down high energy prices while continuing to decarbonise and shift to a circular economy”. This is a core message of Mario Draghi’s report on European competitiveness. Decarbonisation is seen as an opportunity to improve the resilience of Europe’s economy, but Draghi also warns of continued energy price volatility, higher investment costs and Chinese competition.
The regulatory landscape related to carbon credits is dynamically evolving. Even though the global market for carbon credits remains relatively limited compared to the ones created by emission trading systems, it can still play an important and complementary role in fostering positive climate actions through economic incentives.
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) – by far the world’s largest carbon market – has been an effective means of reducing emissions in the EU. As of 2027 the EU ETS will include emissions from road transport and heating and is expected to cover 75% of the EU’s emissions.
After years of record announcements, frantic policy development and the establishment of substantial public support mechanisms, the clean hydrogen sector is nearing an inflexion point. Many clean hydrogen projects have reached the technical feasibility stage, with a global pipeline of clean hydrogen projects totalling nearly 25 million tonnes (Mt) of production by 2030, much of which is in Europe. However, only 4% of those projects reached financial investment decision (FID) in 2023.
Mandatory sustainability reporting has become a key policy tool in the EU’s sustainable finance agenda to enhance the quality, transparency and comparability of sustainability information disclosed by companies. A notable example is the recently adopted Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires companies to provide investors and other stakeholders with relevant and comparable information on their sustainability performance, risks and impact based on a specific set of sustainability reporting standards.
Following the introduction of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), this policy brief considers issues relating to its implementation, in particular the possibility to reduce CBAM liability if a carbon price has already been paid in the country of origin of the goods.
The future of Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) remains uncertain as environmental quality concerns, trust issues and market fragmentation prevents the emergence of a sizeable and liquid market. VCM growth will depend largely on better market organisation and oversight, and on strengthening environmental integrity.
In this Policy Brief asses how new and pending EU legislation on sustainability reporting and disclosure can improve the integrity of voluntary carbon markets.
Materials such as cement, steel and chemicals can account for up to 90% of CO2 emissions in key value chains and industries, such as electronics, construction, automotive, food and fashion. To meet climate targets, it is necessary to develop and deploy new breakthrough technologies that can ultimately transition the supply chain towards climate-neutral production and products..
Science is clear that to reduce the impacts of climate change increasing amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) will have to be removed from the atmosphere, even if all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were to be completely eliminated..
While records amounts of venture capital are being invested in climate tech, we ask the question what is different now as compared to the investment boom of 10 years ago which by and large ended in bust. We find that we are in a better technological position than 10 years ago, mainly due to the success in bringing the cost of solar, wind and batteries down. However, financial barriers to massive deployment of these renewable assets remain..
This Policy Brief discusses possible measures to deal with the immediate social consequences of high energy prices without undermining the climate targets of the Climate Law and the finalisation of the ‘Fit for 55’ package..
In the last few years, the world has seen an unprecedented number of initiatives and actions in the field of sustainable finance. Around the globe, investors, regulators, and financial market participants are intent on changing the financial system to increase the volume of investments aligned with the Paris agreement, while increasing transparency on the impacts of their portfolios..
Europe’s intended proposal for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is imminent. It is also controversial. Making this work in a way that is WTO compatible is challenging, particularly if industry in Europe wishes to retain some free allocation under the EU’s Emissions Trading System.
As more and more countries prepare net-zero pledges under the Paris Agreement, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has a specific concept: the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE), targeting carbon circularity by building a competitive advantage on clean hydrogen and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies..
While much interest is being shown for ‘climate neutral’ pledges by companies, and voluntary carbon markets, both can be confusing. This Policy Brief looks at the definitions and governance characteristics needed to deliver on both fronts.
Since 2017, in the expectation of the start of operation of the Market Stability Reserve as of 2019, prices under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) have been steadily increasing, from around €5 in early 2017 to €25 prior to the onset of the coronavirus epidemic..
The STG Climate Cluster is studying pragmatic means of promoting a wider use of carbon pricing in emerging economies, particularly those belonging to the G20. As part of their commitments under the Paris Agreement, countries are showing more interest in putting a price on carbon as this helps to cut emissions in a cost-effective manner. The focus is therefore to find pragmatic approaches to add carThe STG Climate Cluster is studying pragmatic means of promoting a wider use of carbon pricing in emerging economies, particularly those belonging to the G20...
In the context of raising its climate ambition, Europe is thinking of introducing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on imports. This would be to forestall carbon leakage, whereby European production relocates outside Europe, and is intended to encourage other countries to follow Europe’s lead and raise climate ambition
Page last updated on 09/12/2024