EU and Switzerland join forces in the battle against emissions

12.12.2017 10:29

EU and Switzerland join forces in the battle against emissions

EPP Group convinced that EP vote will open the door to linking with other, bigger ETS systems

The European Parliament is today set to approve the linking of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) with the Swiss system.

The linking of the two trading systems will not only reduce costs of trading with emissions, but also pave the way for more linking with bigger systems such as Australia’s, California’s in the near future, and China’s in a longer perspective.

"The EU contributes to only nine percent of greenhouse gas emissions and cannot halt global warming on its own”, said Christofer Fjellner MEP, the EPP Group’s negotiator on the file. "In order to keep global warming in check, we need a climate policy that serves as an example to others", he said, expressing satisfaction at the Environment Committee’s green light for the Report ten days ago.

Fjellner remarked that in order to get other major emitters to introduce emissions trading systems and link them with Europe’s, "we must show that it is possible to combine reduced emissions with competitiveness, growth and jobs."

"The linking of the two emissions trading systems safeguards emissions reduction and incentives for long-term investments in climate-friendly technology, while the international competitiveness for EU energy-intensive industries is secured", stressed the MEP.

Note to editors

The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 217 Members from 27 Member States

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