EU carbon border adjustment mechanism: Implications for climate and competitiveness

2023-06-21

The EU has the world's largest carbon-pricing system, the emissions trading system (ETS). Emissions pricing can encourage industrial decarbonisation, but it also risks carbon leakage, whereby EU companies move their production abroad. To date, the EU has mitigated this risk through free allocations to certain industries, but with rising climate ambition and higher carbon prices, the Commission is now seeking to phase out free allocations.A new carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) will also be introduced, requiring EU importers, as of 2026, to purchase certificates equivalent to the weekly EU carbon price. The CBAM initially applies to imports in five emissions-intensive sectors deemed at greater risk of carbon leakage: cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, and electricity. The CBAM charge covers imports of these goods from all third countries other than those included in the ETS or a linked mechanism. The CBAM aims to contribute to the EU's climate neutrality objectives, and encourage partner countries to decarbonise their production processes by levelling the playing field in carbon pricing between the EU and third-country producers. Parliament referred the file to the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). The Council adopted its general approach on 15 March and Parliament adopted its negotiating position on 22 June 2022. A provisional trilogue agreement was reached on 13 December, and confirmed by both co-legislators. The final act was published in the Official Journal on 16 May 2023 and comes fully into effect as of January 2026. Fifth edition of a briefing originally drafted by Jana Titievskaia with Alina Dobreva. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages in the legislative procedure.

Source: European Parliament

For more information, please click links below:

1. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)698889

2. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2022/698889/EPRS_BRI(2022)698889_EN.pdf