New data released by the European Commission reveals that industrial emissions in 2009 fell by a dramatic 11% in a single year putting them below the caps that have been set.
This sudden drop off will undermine the EU Emissions Trading System, which is supposed to create incentives for emissions cuts by dictating the level of industrial greenhouse gas pollution in the EU until 2020. In 2009 emissions dropped below the fixed cap giving an overall surplus of permits equivalent to 62 million tonnes of emissions.
According to climate campaign group Sandbag, this relatively small net surplus masks the fact that heavy industry actually generated a surplus of 185 million tones while the power sector faced a shortfall of 123.5 million tonnes. Industrial sectors had on average 30% more allowances than they needed.
Surplus permits can be banked forward indefinitely and set against future targets or sold at a profit.
So despite the fact that the emissions to the atmosphere have gone down, there will be no overall additional reduction in emissions unless the caps are tightened. Crucially heavy industry will avoid any incentives to reduce their emissions or invest in more energy efficient technologies for many years to come.
Many oppose tightening caps in a recession for fear that it will lead to demands for caps to be loosened in a period of economic growth. However, the purpose of the laws introducing caps is to deliver an environment outcome – tightening caps is completely in line with that objective whereas loosening them is not.
Commenting on the new data, Bryony Worthington, Founder and Director of climate campaign group Sandbag said: “This new information makes it clearer than ever that the EU must increase its climate ambitions.
“Caps are now sitting above emissions and we are already over half way towards meeting the caps that have been set for 2020. Emissions are falling faster than could have been imagined, but this recession could have a silver lining for the environment and the economy. If the caps are tightened then the EU can grow back to a position of economic strength through green investment.”
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