LIFE EFFECT: A new project for an effective and fair European carbon trading begins

Building on the successful outcomes of LIFE ETX, The Green Tank is now on a new adventure aimed at an effective and fair European carbon trading. The LIFE EFFECT project, launched yesterday in Brussels, is set to improve the knowledge, capacity and networking of civil society and other key actors on the EU’s Emissions Trading System for road transport and buildings (ETS 2) and the related Social Climate Fund (SCF). Its ultimate goal is to ensure EU carbon pricing and revenue use serves the climate and society.

The EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) was launched in 2005 to limit greenhouse gas emissions across the EU by establishing a ‘cap and trade’ system initially for the energy and industry sectors. Recent data are the evidence of its success: in 2023 Greece and the EU-27 marked a record low in emissions in sectors included in the ETS since 2005. The revision of the EU ETS under the fit for 55 package in 2023 brought the establishment of a new ETS 2 for road transport and buildings by 2027 and a Social Climate Fund intended to support the most vulnerable against the implications of ETS 2. Therefore, a whole new chapter opens, and civil society has a key role to play in ensuring their successful and fair implementation.

To this end, the LIFE EFFECT’s partners will join forces to empower all interested parties on issues related to ETS 2 and SCF through targeted trainings, data analyses and policy recommendations, along with several other actions.

The project is coordinated by Carbon Market Watch (Brussels) and implemented in collaboration with The Green Tank, Bond Beter Leefmilieu (BBL), Asociace pro mezinárodní otázky (AMO), Germanwatch, ECCO, Polska Zielona Siec (PGN), Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável (ZERO), European Environmental Bureau (EEB). The duration of the project is July 2024-June 2027.

The LIFE EFFECT (Effective and Fair European Carbon Trading: Ensuring EU carbon pricing and revenue use serves the climate and society) project (LIFE23-GIC-BE-LIFE EFFECT) is co-financed by the EU LIFE Programme.