EU agrees to €5bn carbon permit giveaway

On 24 September 2014, the European Parliament's environment committee narrowly upheld plans to give billions of euros worth of carbon allowances to heavy industries for free, in order to help them compete in global markets.

In May, the European Commission proposed that the vast majority of industrial sectors should get most of their allowances for free in 2015-2019 to help meet their obligations under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Press Relase, 24.09.14: Interview: how to charge firms for CO2 emissions without it costing jobs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140923STO68302/

EurActiv, 17.09.14: Lawmakers to vote on EU's €5bn carbon permit giveaway http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/lawmakers-vote-eus-eu5bn-carbon-permit-giveaway-308491

ESO: Background information: Environmentalists, business on collision course for putting cars on CO2 market http://www.europeansources.info/record/environmentalists-business-on-collision-course-for-putting-cars-on-co2-market/

EurActiv, 09.10.14: European businesses split over urgency of EU carbon market fix http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/european-businesses-split-over-urgency-eu-carbon-market-fix-309055

EurActiv, 10.10.14: Global CO2 pricing scheme surfaces ahead of 2015 climate summit http://www.euractiv.com/sections/sustainable-dev/global-co2-pricing-scheme-surfaces-ahead-2015-climate-summit-309072

The Guardian [Opinion], 15.10.14: Europe needs to fix or ditch its emissions trading scheme http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/15/europe-needs-to-fix-or-ditch-its-emissions-trading-scheme

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