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Climate Action
News article21 January 2011Directorate-General for Climate Action

Emissions trading: Commission welcomes vote to ban certain industrial gas credits

The European Commission welcomes today's vote by Member States to ban from use in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) emission offset credits from certain projects which destroy industrial gases. Essentially, the ban means that companies will be

The European Commission welcomes today's vote by Member States to ban from use in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) emission offset credits from certain projects which destroy industrial gases. Essentially, the ban means that companies will be able to use these credits for 2012 compliance under the EU ETS until 30 April 2013, but not thereafter.

Connie Hedegaard, Commissioner for Climate Action, said: "I very much welcome the Committee's decision to back this Regulation, less than 5 months after I first proposed the idea. These projects raise concerns relating to their environmental integrity, value-for-money and geographical distribution. Not only are some of these credits of doubtful value, continuing to use them is also not in the EU's interest as doing so could discourage host countries from supporting cheaper and more direct action to cut these emissions. Our aim is not to reduce the number of credits available but to ensure the international carbon market is based on a better quality and distribution of credits."

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Publication date
21 January 2011
Author
Directorate-General for Climate Action