US strikes Iran for tenth straight night as Tehran hits Kuwait base; American death toll reaches 17Iranian missile hit US troop housing at Jordan base; Aqaba airport and port evacuatedHouthis declare Saudi naval blockade as fresh tanker attacks hit the Strait of HormuzBrent crude back above $90 as Gulf war rattles stocks, currencies and rate-settersTrump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods under untested 1930 trade lawMerz signals cabinet reshuffle after Spahn quits as parliamentary leader over surrogacy rowBurnham takes office as UK prime minister, names Healey chancellor and calls TrumpRussia hits Kyiv with one of the war's largest ballistic barragesUkrainian drones and sea drones strike Russian oil terminals, power grid and Black Sea shipsFerry with about 133 aboard capsizes off Guyana; dozens missingAt least 50 Malian soldiers killed in jihadist–separatist ambush near AnefisChina uses WAIC to press its claim to lead 'global AI governance'Heatwave fuels major wildfires in Spain and Greece; nearly 50,000 hectares burnedUS strikes Iran for tenth straight night as Tehran hits Kuwait base; American death toll reaches 17Iranian missile hit US troop housing at Jordan base; Aqaba airport and port evacuatedHouthis declare Saudi naval blockade as fresh tanker attacks hit the Strait of HormuzBrent crude back above $90 as Gulf war rattles stocks, currencies and rate-settersTrump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods under untested 1930 trade lawMerz signals cabinet reshuffle after Spahn quits as parliamentary leader over surrogacy rowBurnham takes office as UK prime minister, names Healey chancellor and calls TrumpRussia hits Kyiv with one of the war's largest ballistic barragesUkrainian drones and sea drones strike Russian oil terminals, power grid and Black Sea shipsFerry with about 133 aboard capsizes off Guyana; dozens missingAt least 50 Malian soldiers killed in jihadist–separatist ambush near AnefisChina uses WAIC to press its claim to lead 'global AI governance'Heatwave fuels major wildfires in Spain and Greece; nearly 50,000 hectares burned
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Narrative thread · 2 events

EU emissions trading

Symbolic image

Das EU-Emissionshandelssystem (ETS) ist ein zentrales Instrument der EU-Klimapolitik und soll helfen, die Treibhausgasemissionen bis 2030 um mindestens 55 Prozent gegenüber 1990 zu senken; es funktioniert nach dem Cap-and-Trade-Prinzip, bei dem eine sinkende Obergrenze für Emissionen gilt und Zertifikate gehandelt werden. Um Wettbewerbsnachteile und die Verlagerung von Produktion ins Ausland (Carbon Leakage) zu verhindern, führt die EU den CO2-Grenzausgleichsmechanismus CBAM ein, der ab 2026 startet und bis 2034 vollständig eingeführt wird; er belegt Importe etwa von Stahl, Aluminium und Zement mit einem CO2-Preis. Ergänzend entsteht mit ETS2 ein neues System für die Sektoren Gebäude und Straßenverkehr, das ab 2027 operativ werden soll und bei dem Brennstofflieferanten statt Endverbraucher zur Meldung verpflichtet sind. Dabei besteht ein anhaltendes Spannungsfeld zwischen ehrgeizigen Klimazielen und der Sorge um die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der europäischen Industrie.

Europäische Kommission: About the EU ETSEuropäische Kommission: ETS2Clean Energy Wire

Timeline in detail

Saturday, 18 July 2026Economy

EU loosens emissions trading and ignites a climate dispute

The European Commission wants to ease the CO2 price burden on industry and is stepping back from strict climate targets, but is extending emissions trading to aviation and waste. Critics speak of “dangerous window dressing” and a hollowing out of climate protection. Supporters see a pragmatic compromise that rescues emissions trading in difficult times.

The reform eases the CO2 price burden on companies and gives them more time, but in effect lowers the climate targets. The left-leaning taz judges that this will not save industry and draws the wrong conclusions, while the liberal Die Zeit finds that the Commission has given in to industry pressure and at the same time rescued emissions trading, which is remarkable in the age of Trump. Politico reports that energy-intensive industry is dissatisfied and speaks of “dangerous window dressing,” with only the DIHK seeing anything positive. The conservative Le Figaro highlights that a net-zero target by 2039 is regarded as unrealistic, that firms would be allowed to emit for longer, but that emissions trading would be extended to aviation and waste. Thus the accusation of betraying the climate, industry's complaint about too little relief, and the interpretation as a pragmatic rescue stand opposed.

tazDie ZeitPolitico EuropeLe Figaro

Friday, 17 July 2026EconomyEU Commission reforms emissions trading and ignites a climate row

EU Commission reforms emissions trading and ignites a climate row

The European Commission put forward proposals to reform emissions trading intended to give industry more leeway. Critics warn of a watering-down of climate protection, while business demands relief. The dispute is likely to become one of the year's biggest climate-policy battles.

Politico frames the initiative as a moment of truth for the Commission's climate credibility and writes that Brussels wants to allow industry to pollute more and for longer, against which Parliament and member states are signaling resistance. The Handelsblatt and Die Zeit highlight the underlying tension: climate protection versus competitiveness, with Die Zeit asking what European climate protection achieves if too few countries take part. From the Russian side comes a counterpoint: TASS reports that Russia has appealed to the WTO to clarify the dispute over the EU's CO2 rules and the border adjustment CBAM. Industry demands relief, while climate advocates fear for the instrument's effectiveness. Those involved agree that the reform recalibrates the balance between emissions reduction and location interests and remains internationally contested.

Politico EuropeDie ZeitTASSHandelsblatt

Forecast · Assessment
  • Most likely60%

    The proposal triggers a long dispute with Parliament and member states that ends in a compromise with watered-down requirements.

  • Worst case20%

    The reform hollows out emissions trading, jeopardizes the EU's climate targets and weakens Europe's role model.

  • Best case20%

    A balanced compromise combines relief for industry with credible climate protection and stabilizes the CO2 price.