Positive trends were recorded last year in the operation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), with the exception of the increase in emissions from the aviation sector, according to the annual report for 2018 published by the European Commission on 31 October.
This report shows that in 2018, emissions from installations covered by the ETS decreased by 4.1% compared to 2017, or by approximately 73 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. As in previous years, this decrease is mainly due to the electricity and heat production sector, while industrial emissions decreased only slightly.
However, verified aviation emissions continued to grow - an increase of 3.9% compared to 2017.
In 2018, the strengthening of the carbon price signal allowed Member States to withdraw a record amount from the sale of allowances - €14 billion, more than double the revenues generated in 2017.
Member States have spent or plan to spend almost 70% of this revenue during the year on climate and energy objectives; much more than the 50% required by legislation.
Following the adoption of the revised ETS Directive, attention was focused on the implementation of the new provisions before the fourth trading period (2021-2030) began.
The market stability reserve surplus indicator was published for the third time and corresponds to 1,654,909,824 allowances. It will continue to lead to the placement of allowances in the reserve, reducing the 2019 auction volume by nearly 40% (nearly 400 million allowances).
Implementation work is in full swing, notably including new implementing legislation on the list of sectors exposed to carbon leakage, free allowance allocation rules, the Innovation Fund, emissions reporting and verification, adopted in May 2018.
Link to the Commission's report: http://bit.ly/2JNfR2I (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)