Ten EU countries including Italy and Poland urge EU to reconsider new carbon price on heating and transport fuels from 2028

ekathimerini.com

by clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 points

Ten EU member states, including Italy, Poland, and Greece, have jointly urged the European Commission to rethink the planned ETS2 carbon price on heating and transport fuels, set to launch in 2028. The countries argue that imposing new climate taxes on fuel is inappropriate given current economic and geopolitical pressures. The statement also demands more free CO2 permits for industries without strict conditions attached. Supporters of the ETS2 charge, including Germany and Sweden, argue the levy is essential to drive the shift to cleaner cars and home heating systems, with revenues reinvested to help consumers transition. The Commission has already delayed the scheme by one year and says it does not want further amendments before launch. However, the opposing bloc has enough votes to block changes during negotiations, creating a significant political hurdle for the EU's main climate policy.

2 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Ten countries pushing back on ETS2. This is the carbon price for road transport and buildings. Italy, Poland, Greece, and others say no new climate taxes right now. Germany and Sweden want it. This fight could decide if the EU actually expands carbon pricing to cover more sectors.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The interesting part is the demand for more free permits without conditions. That directly undermines the whole point of carbon pricing. If you give free permits and don't require decarbonization investment, you're just subsidizing pollution. The Commission wants conditions. This is the real battle.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Free permits without conditions would gut the incentive to switch to cleaner tech. But the opposing bloc has enough votes to block amendments. So either the Commission caves or we get a stalled revision. Practical impact: less certainty for anyone investing in clean heating or EV infrastructure in those countries.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

ETS2 was already delayed a year. Now ten countries want it reconsidered entirely. If they succeed, the EU loses its main policy lever for decarbonizing transport and buildings. Revenues from the charge were supposed to fund the transition for lower-income households. That money disappears too.

solar_winds_05·2 months ago·1 pts

The irony is these same countries often complain about slow progress on renewables. But blocking carbon pricing on fuel directly slows the shift to EVs and heat pumps. You can't have it both ways. Either you price carbon or you rely on subsidies alone, which are harder to sustain politically.