Klimaschutz und Wirtschaft: Reiche sieht Positives bei Reformplänen für Emissionshandel

Wirtschaftsministerin Katherina Reiche expressed concerns over the economic impact of emissions trading. While welcoming the EU Commission's proposals to weaken the climate protection instrument, she also pointed out some details to consider. Reiche warned against industrial production and energy-intensive businesses moving to other countries.

She emphasized the need for Germany to maintain these vital sectors by ensuring the reform of EU Emissions Trading System is designed appropriately. The reform aims to keep industrial production and energy-intensive enterprises in the country long-term. The central climate protection tool of the EU, emissions trading, requires companies to prove rights for emitting greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2).

They can then trade these rights, incentivizing them to reduce emissions. The Brussels-based authority suggested reducing the total number of available certificates over time, with more free certificates in certain areas. Reiche praised some aspects of the EU Commission's July reform proposal, stating that the system should be more flexible and that the allocation of free certificates should be expanded.

However, she cautioned that the standards applied to free certificate allocation should accurately reflect reality. If free certificates essentially become the norm for entire industry sectors, it will not work. Environmental protection organization WWF criticized the EU Commission for slowing down the process. They argue that softening carbon pricing rewards laggards and burdens the climate, which everyone will have to pay for.

The German Sustainable Business Association warned of a shift in climate protection efforts. They argue that extending free certificates will only postpone industrial restructuring and increase pressure on companies in the 2040s. Rising costs due to the Iran war and low water levels on the Rhine are already impacting industry today.

Revenue from emissions trading should bolster the affected sectors. The Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie had stressed that emissions trading alone cannot drive the green transformation of industry. They emphasized the need for affordable green electricity and hydrogen, as well as the necessary networks. BASF, a chemicals giant, warned that the Brussels proposal overlooks the realities of businesses and is likely to increase the cost burden for companies in Europe.

"What we need are quick relief measures, not additional burdens and even more bureaucracy," said the steelmaker Salzgitter. They emphasized the need for a reliable long-term increase in the CO2 market price, which is essential for triggering and implementing necessary innovation leaps for the decarbonization of EU industry.