Blog posts
Record increase in renewables, but only a small fall in emissions
New analysis by Sandbag looks at the 2015 power sector in Europe. The data shows that 2015 saw a record increase in renewables generation, equal to 2.5% of European electricity demand. But despite this, power sector CO2 emissions are expected to fall by only about...
Carbon costs for the Steel Sector are not as high as feared
A recent report by the consultancy Ecofys for the European steel association Eurofer suggests steel companies face costs of €28/tonne of steel to comply with ETS obligations by 2030. However, at Sandbag we are sceptical that the proposed revision to the Emissions...
After the celebrations this weekend lets get Europe’s legal frameworks fit-for-purpose
[This blog is adapted from an article published in the Huffington Post on 11.12.2015] Europe is an old economy. We're industrialised, highly capitalised and largely privatised. To achieve change we need laws and policies in a way that other major economies,...
Europe’s 2030 climate offer threatened by massive over-delivery of 2020 target
Figures released from the European Environment Agency yesterday indicate that Europe will significantly outperform its 2020 climate target; however, Sandbag finds that the EEA continue to seriously downplay the level of emissions cuts Europe can expect. Moreover, we...
Putting CO2 into the circular economy
Last week, Sandbag submitted its response to the Commission’s Consultation on the Circular Economy, drawing attention to the understated potential of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and mineralisation technologies to close the carbon loop and recycle wastes into...
As Paris approaches, an easy route to increased EU climate ambition
As pressure mounts on leaders to reach a new global climate change agreement this December, European policymakers have begun the process of constructing laws that will enforce Europe’s emissions cuts out to 2030. In July, the European Commission released a first major...
Reaction to the Commission’s revision of the EU ETS Directive
Sandbag has prepared the following statement in reaction to the Commission’s revision of the EU ETS Directive published earlier today. download PDF
Discharging a political storm: Supporting EU competitiveness and innovation in the ETS
On Wednesday, the EU Commission will release new legislation to reform Europe’s key climate policy, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). This will kick off a year-long debate about how best to marry low carbon ambitions with economic competitiveness. In our...

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