Carbon Pulse

The distribution of free EU carbon allowances for 2021 will be delayed until at least Q2 next year due to the protracted process to set ETS emissions benchmarks and calculate allocation quotas, the European Commission confirmed on Friday.

The EU and Switzerland has published the ETS allowance transfer window schedule for 2021, providing 29 one-day opportunities for units to flow between the linked carbon markets.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

EUAs reached a fresh two-month high on Friday before easing back for a robust 5.2% weekly gain as fears about an extended auction-free period continued to drive bullish sentiment.

Industry groups and NGOs alike agree that expanding the scope of the EU ETS to include vehicles and the bloc's building stock will be a "risky" move, according to responses to the European Commission's consultation to review the legislation underpinning the system.

Organization: Climate Analytics Inc. Position: Project Manager Duty Station: Berlin, Germany Deadline for Application: 10 December 2020

The last week has seen a couple of significant changes to the predicted supply schedule for the start of EU ETS Phase 4, and while they may not be big game-changers in the long term (overall supply in 2021 won’t be affected), they do have the potential to change the market dynamic in the first quarter at the very least.

Organization: CAN Europe Position: International Climate Policy Coordinator Duty Station: Europe Deadline for Application: 11 December 2020

The Netherlands has set the rate at which its carbon tax on EU ETS-covered heavy industries will apply next year, a government agency said Friday, using a measure slightly below current benchmark prices.

Closing prices, ranges and volumes for China's regional pilot carbon markets this week.

Colombia has submitted an upgraded NDC of a 51% emissions reduction target by 2030, President Ivan Duque said late on Thursday, potentially representing a significant raising of ambition.

South Korea will increase its 2030 climate target before the administration’s term ends in May 2022, President Moon Jae-in said Friday.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

The success of sustainable development taking root in the voluntary carbon market has presented both tremendous opportunity and an important risk: SDG washing, writes Owen Hewlett of Gold Standard.

EU carbon prices climbed to a new two-month high Thursday, boosted by a strong auction and as the wider energy complex lifted due to several bullish factors, while several traders said the market was still not accurately pricing in a looming supply drought.

Japan and South Korea has voiced concerns over EU plans to extend the scope of its ETS to include emissions from all voyages using the 27-nation bloc’s ports, which the European Commission is considering as part of its carbon market reform.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) prices cascaded this week after the release of the Q4 WCI auction results, as RGGI Allowances (RGA) found continued support on the secondary market ahead of the Northeast US cap-and-trade programme's own quarterly auction.

A proposal to introduce a passenger tax in Portugal’s budget for next year was adopted in the national Parliament on Wednesday.

The municipal government of Shenyang has released draft regulations for what will become China’s ninth regional carbon market, with an eye to linking to other regions over time.

South Korea will close a number of coal-fired power plants during the winter months to reduce air pollution, the government announced Thursday, a move that will also mute demand for CO2 allowances in the nation’s emissions trading scheme.