ERCST

Border Carbon Adjustment in the EU: EP draft position
2022-01-12 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
The European Green Deal has strengthened the level of climate ambition, increasing the asymmetry of climate efforts by aiming to achieve climate neutrality in the European Union by 2050. This raises the question of how to deal with competitive pressure and carbon leakage, also considering the COP26 outcomes and pushing Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs) to the front as a possible unilateral solution.
Since the beginning of the CBAM Project, ERCST presented the Sectoral CBAM Report with a deep dive into the specificities of individual sectors as well as issues and options of the general CBAM Design. It was followed by the Proposal and discussed with multiple stakeholders in the EU and internationally. The reactions to the EU Proposal were presented in September together with the Brief for Policy Makers.
Now the EU institutions are presenting their positions. European Parliament after the Own Initiative exercise is starting the discussion on the Report which will lead to formulation of the negotiating position and ultimately to the shape of the EU CBAM in the trilogues later in the year.
ERCST’s project on border carbon adjustment is supported by BDI, CEFIC, EBRD,
Électricité de France, Enel, Eurofer, Eurometaux, ExxonMobil, Fertilizers Europe, FuelsEurope, Grupa Azoty, HeidelbergCement, the Government of France, the Government of Germany, the Government of Spain, Metinvest and Solvay.

Workshop materials
Draft Agenda
ERCST Presentation
Eurometaux Presentation

ETS Revision for Phase IV: Draft Report by the rapporteur in the ENVI Committee
2022-01-21 10:00 - 11:30 UTC
As the responsible committee for the Revision of the EU ETS, the ENVI Committee and more specifically, the rapporteur of the file Peter Liese, has published its draft report on 14 January.
The roundtable discussed key takeaways from the draft report by the rapporteur from the responsible committee in the European Parliament and provide an opportunity to exchange views on how the draft report addresses concerns from different stakeholders.
This event featured officials from the European Parliament, more specific the ENVI Committee which was appointed as the responsible committee for the Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System. The webinar included a presentation by the rapporteur of the main elements of their draft report followed by a discussion with relevant stakeholders.
Workshop Materials:
Agenda
Recording

Presentations:
Comments on Liese’s report by L. Rathe – Hydro.

EU Taxonomy: extension framework and interplay with transition pathways
2022-01-26 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | online
This meeting will take the form of a working group. A diverse group of stakeholders will discuss specific elements of the EU sustainable finance agenda. This meeting is dedicated to the topic of EU Taxonomy and industrial transition.
The 2 working groups will discuss:

The EU Taxonomy extension framework: nuclear, gas, significantly harmful (SH) and no significant impact (NSI) activities
EU Taxonomy interplay with transition pathways

Agenda

This event is by invitation only and for more information you can contact pcesaro@ercst.org.

Just Transition Governance and Financing across EU Member States
2022-01-27 14:30 - 16:30 UTC
Sustainable development considers economic, social, and environmental matters holistically. Just Transition intends to counter the idea that valuing social aspects of sustainable development and caring for the environment are mutually exclusive goals.
In this context, ERCST decided to further analyse the social implications of the environmental transition, both at a global and an EU level. At EU level, the climate ambition under the EGD (-55% in 2030 and climate neutrality in 2050) will have social impacts spread unevenly. The EU is thus trying to make this transition fair, leaving no one behind.
This meeting will be an opportunity to take stock and unpack the governance of Just Transition initiatives across EU Member States by answering the following questions:

What is the EU already doing on Just Transition? Taking stock of the measures in place: mechanisms, funds, fiscal reforms.
What is the Just Transition governance and financing structure at Member State level?
Who is in charge of the preparation of the national and territorial just transition plans (TJTP) and what is their state?
What is working and what is not in the EU Just Transition governance?

Workshop Materials:
Agenda
ERCST Presentation
Bankwatch Presentation
Slovak Republic Presentation
University of Economics in Katowice (Poland) Presentation
Spain Presentation
Results of the slido poll

Hydrogen: completing the regulatory puzzle
2022-01-28 10:00 - 12:30 UTC
Drawing on the lessons of a previous stock-take on the topic discussed in December 2021, this meeting intended to identify main gaps in the current EU regulatory framework for hydrogen following the publication of the hydrogen and decarbonized gas market package and other relevant legislative acts, such as the Delegated Act on Renewable Fuels of non-Biological Origin (RFNBO).
This meeting reflected upon the following questions:

Has the Commission proposed a comprehensive regulatory framework that supports the creation of a hydrogen economy in the EU? If not, what are the missing pieces?
What are those elements of the regulation that despite being included may act as a bottle neck or slow the pace of deployment of a hydrogen economy?
Are we making an excessive use of regulation vis a vis market-based instruments such as carbon pricing?
Is there a comprehensive definition for low carbon hydrogen that supports investments in this technological landscape?
Does the delegated act on RFBOs act as a bottleneck for the deployment of a hydrogen economy?

Draft Agenda ERCST Slides ERCST Publication

Informal Forum on Implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement – February 2022
2022-02-08 13:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Paris)
This meeting was part of the ERCST initiative, which aims to create an informal atmosphere, where the main objective is to explore, discover, explain and understand different points of view related to the issues in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. That is, to understand the options available to define rules, modalities and procedures on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, as well as the consequences of adopting each option.
Since 2014, ERCST has been hosting an ‘informal dialogue’ between negotiations as part of the “Implementation of market and non-market provisions in the Paris Agreement” project , informed by a few selected experts.

Price signal for carbon and impact on decarbonisation
2022-02-09 10:00 - 11:30 UTC
The discussion focused on the current EUA price level and their impact on decarbonisation efforts, both in industrial sectors, as well as other sectors of the economy. The reaction in the EU seems to vary depending on sectors and EU Member States. Some sectors see the very rapid price increase as beneficial and supportive of decarbonisation effort, while other sectors make the case that this pace drains resource from decarbonisation efforts while the pace of set turnover cannot be sped up. This is an important topic that will help inform the discussion especially on EU ETS review, as well as other parts of the Fit for 55 package.
Agenda ERCST Slides Eurometaux Slides

State of the EGD: two years after
2022-02-16 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | online
This session intended to look at State of the EGD after two years, after some of the Draft Parliament opinions had been issued, and in light of the international situation after COP 26, but ahead of the global stocktake in 2023.
During this session, we reflected upon the following questions:
– Do you think it is possible to conciliate the growing tensions among different policies (simultaneously reducing emissions, keeping prices low and guaranteeing security of supply) in the framework of an ambitious fit for 55 package? Is the proposed Fit for 55 realistically implementable?
– What are the alternatives to achieve this conciliation without incurring in an excesive use of regulation?
– Do you think the political willignes to broaden the technological arsenal to achieve the EU 2030 and 2050 targets is different today when compered to the general sentiment at the time the EGD communication was first launched two years ago?
Agenda

CBAM Global Townhall 2022
2022-02-22 14:00 - 16:30 UTC
The European Commission put forward a proposal for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – an enabler of ambitious climate policy in a world of unequal ambition. As other countries respond to the climate crisis, we can expect to see them follow suit.
Ideally there would be international coordination of these emerging policies; they have high-stakes implications for international trade, international equity, climate diplomacy. Some have suggested that BCAs could be an essential element of “climate clubs”, acting both as a common tariff-like wall, and as incentive to join. Others have called for international agreement on principles and best practice.
This session, convened by ERCST on the basis of its extensive work on the EU CBAM, brought together global thought leaders that have explored this critical aspect of CBAM/BCA, unpacking the proposals and considering the options.
ERCST’s project on border carbon adjustment is supported by BDI, CEFIC, EBRD, Électricité de France, Enel, Eurofer, Eurometaux, ExxonMobil, Fertilizers Europe, FuelsEurope, Grupa Azoty, HeidelbergCement, the Government of France, the Government of Germany, the Government of Spain, Metinvest and Solvay.
Agenda ERCST Slides DG TAXUD Slides CSPA Slides Hydro Slides

EU-Turkey Climate Policy Dialogue: Role of Civil Society in developing climate policies
2022-02-23 10:00 - 12:30 UTC
This workshop was part of the project EU – Turkey Climate Policy Dialogue for civil societies. The overall objective of the project was to establish a sustained dialogue between Turkish and EU CSOs, private actors and public institutions on the articulation of Climate Change policy between the EU and Turkey and climate policy development in general.
This workshop focused on the key role Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play in the EU in developing climate policies, both through informal and formal participation processes and identify best and concrete practices that Turkish CSOs could implement. A number of CSOs were invited to engage in a panel discussion in order to get a better understanding of what this means for EU and Turkish stakeholders.
Lastly, it was an opportunity for Turkish and European CSOs to establish a dialogue and to highlight additional elements they would like to see as part of this project, and what kind of format and topics they would like to touch upon in the next workshops.
Agenda ERCST Slides Europe Beyond Coal Slides

Article 29a EU ETS Directive - EU Measures in the event of excessive price fluctuations
2022-02-25 10:00 - 11:30 UTC
In January 2021, the EC carbon price raised to 89.42 euros/tons of CO2. One year before, the EU carbon price was 33 euros/tons of CO2. This rapid price increase in addition to the recent energy crisis, has triggered discussions about the possibility of EU authorities to trigger the Article 29 of the EU ETS Directive or at least to revise it. Under Article 29, if for more than six consecutive months, the allowance price is more than three times the average price of allowances during the two preceding years, the Commission shall convene a meeting of the Climate Change Committee. Since the creation of the EU ETS in 2005, the mechanism has not been triggered so far.
This event introduced the current legislative framework. The presentation was followed by an interactive roundtable of key stakeholders and policy makers that argued if the current EU mechanisms are fit for purpose to protect against formation of price bubble in the EU ETS Market, the role of speculation and its impact on compliance entities.
Final Agenda ERCST Slides BEIS UK Slides KOBiZE Slides PIK Postdam Slides
BloomBerg NEF Slides EuroAlliagues Slides Sandbag Slides EFET Slides
California ARB Video.

Border Carbon Adjustment in the EU - CBAM Scope 2 emissions
2022-03-02 15:00 - 17:00 UTC
The European Commission has proposed a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, aiming to have the regime functional by 2023, and negotiations are ongoing on the shape of the final instrument. One of the most critically important issues, yet to be resolved, is the question of whether Scope 2 emissions should be included under the mechanism.
This session brought together global experts in the areas of economics, law, and policy to explore the critical underlying questions and assess proposals to address them.
Agenda Eurometaux Slides

Joint roundtable ‘The IMF proposal for an international carbon price floor: a quantitative analysis’
2022-03-09 14:00 - 15:30 UTC
PwC has recently published in the context of COP26 a study together with the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the international carbon price, which finds that an international carbon price floor would pay for itself and reduce global carbon emissions by 12.5%.
The international carbon price floor would also further support the EU CBAM’s objective of preventing carbon leakage by incentivising engagement with lower income countries and incentivising and supporting a fair global transition.
This roundtable discussion revolved around:
● How could an international carbon price agreement be designed and implemented and what economic and environmental impacts would it have.
● How can the proposals in the Fit for 55 package promote an international carbon price floor.
● How CBAM can incentivise more countries to adopt market-based ETS systems for carbon pricing that are consistent with the international carbon price floor.
● The need for an accompanying financial mechanism to direct the revenue generated towards supporting lower income countries to gradually increase the carbon price and reach net zero by 2050 as necessary to achieve the global climate targets.
Agenda PwC Report Slides

EU Taxonomy: impacts on other policies
2022-03-11 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | online
This meeting took the form of a working group where stakeholders discussed specific elements of the EU sustainable finance agenda. This meeting was dedicated to the topic of EU Taxonomy impacts on other policies. Indeed, ERCST considers the analysis of the interactions of the EU Taxonomy with other policies an important element because, among other things, these interactions will also have an impact on the overall functioning of the EU industry and financial market. ERCST considers that the EU Taxonomy Regulation will have two main types of impacts and interplays:

First, impacts on other sustainable finance (SF) policies. Notably, ERCST intends to analyze the EU Green Bond Standard (EU GBS), the proposed Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSRD) Directive and the Corporate Governance Initiative.
Second, interplays with other environmental and climate policies. Notably, ERCST intends to analyze those related to carbon pricing (i.e., the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the Energy Taxation Directive), and those shaping public (and private) finance and aid schemes such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility and Invest EU

The 2 working groups discussed these impacts.
Agenda ERCST Slides

Shaping ERCST's feedback on the hydrogen and decarbonised gas package
2022-03-16 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | ERCST, Rue Archimède 61, Bruxelles, 1000, Belgium
After the publication of the European Commission Hydrogen Strategy in July 2020 and after the publication of the Fit for 55 first set of publications in July 2021, the Commission proposed on December 15th 2021 a set of legislative proposals including the revision of the Gas Regulation 715/2009 and the Gas Directive 2009/73 (the package). Following the proposals, the Commission has opened a feedback period that will be opened for several weeks to assess stakeholder’s reactions to the package.
Drawing on the lessons of previous stock-takes on the topic discussed in December 2021 and January 2022, this meeting intends to shape ERCST feedback to the European Commission proposals.
This meeting intends to contribute shaping ERCST response to the European Commission Public Consultation on the hydrogen and decarbonized gas market package on three main issues:

Is the proposed definition for low-carbon hydrogen aligned with the ambitions of the European Commission hydrogen strategy?
Are we making an excessive use of regulation for hydrogen transportation infrastructure before making sure the demand side is mature and incentivized enough as to justify this level of regulatory intervention?
Based on the proposed regulatory framework is the EU encouraging hydrogen imports? Should the EU take this stance?

AGENDA ERCST Slides Bellona Slides Enagas Slides ERCST Publication

Development impact of EU’s CBAM
2022-03-16 15:30 - 17:00 UTC
Co-convened by ERCST and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
The European Green Deal has strengthened the level of climate ambition by aiming to achieve climate neutrality in the European Union by 2050. The European Commission has proposed a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as the preferred option to address the risk of carbon leakage.
This session explored the development dimension of the proposed CBAM along the following guiding questions:

What are the expected impacts of the CBAM for developing country exporters?
What design element choices are most important in determining those impacts?
What parallel measures (outside the CBAM legislation) might the EU adopt to best position the CBAM from a development perspective?
What kinds of policies might exporting developing countries adopt to support their exporters as the CBAM comes into effect?

Agenda Recording

Border Carbon Adjustment in the EU – Launch of Report on Exports in CBAM
2022-03-18 14:00 - 15:30 UTC
Since 2019, ERCST has built up solid experience on BCAs and carbon leakage issues in the EU context. The ERCST Team has accompanied the CBAM file from its earliest stages in the legislative process, providing analytical input to the discussion on BCAs and fostering an informed debate with domestic and international stakeholders.
At this event, the ERCST presented its report on one of the “crunch issues” in the EU’s CBAM: Exports. Exports are currently not included in the Commission’s CBAM proposal due to significant legal uncertainty regarding the alignment with WTO rules. However, there are concerns that the exclusion of exports will open up an export-related carbon leakage channel, thereby harming EU competitiveness and climate ambition.
The ERCST presented its analysis and discussed the findings with those present, thereby contributing to the understanding of what it means to address exports in the CBAM.
Agenda ERCST Slides ERCST Report ERCST Policymaker Summary Recording

EXTERNAL EVENT: CEPR Research and Policy Network on Climate Change
2022-03-21 17:00 - 19:00 UTC
On the 21st of March, Andrei Marcu, Executive Director of ERCST, spoke at the CEPR Research and Policy Network on Climate Change, Hybrid Webinar ‘Economics of Border Adjustments’.
Agenda Recording

The impact of commodity prices on energy transition and regulatory framework
2022-04-06 10:45 - 12:45 (Europe/Paris) | online
This event is part of a ERCST series which tales the state of play of the debate in energy prices after the release of the EC toolbox and REPowerEU Communication as well as looking forward to the direct EC framework. Stocktaking on Council discussions and following the previous event on “Electricity prices in the EU” hosted by the ERCST in October 2021, this time ERCST aimed to encourage a discussion on the following questions:
Session 1

In a rapidly evolving context what are the main drivers of high gas and electricity prices and what is the outlook?

Session 2

How to make sure REPowerEU is able to conciliate the growing tension of keeping energy prices low, accelerating decarbonisation and guarantying need investments and security of supply?
What short term and long-term solutions could be effectively implemented to tackle the current energy crisis.

Final Agenda Cerame-Unie Slides Recording

Roundtable on Just Transition Framework
2022-04-19 14:00 - 15:45 UTC | online
As part of the Just Transition workstream, the ERCST team has decided to explore and put together a preliminary framework to assess the social impacts of the transition and provide guidance on how to develop a vision for a just transition that will, in turn, translate into concrete actions. The framework entailed mainly three parts: 1) the principles for a JT, 2) a set of indicators to measure the social impacts of the transition and 3) guidance on how to build a JT strategy based on the impacts analysis.
Acknowledging the fact that a just transition is not a fixed set of rules, this framework aims to provide guidance and support to assess the current situation and build a vision and a process for a Just Transition. With this work, ERCST helped the research and policy community to shape their agendas towards a fair and just transition.
The aim of the roundtable meeting is to initiate a discussion and gather your views on the initiative. During the roundtable, ERCST shared a presentation highlighting the existing principles, guidelines, frameworks, and tools for JT and then presented the ideas for the ERCST framework. Interventions from the Wuppertal Institute, EPRI and SEI followed, preparing the terrain to have an open discussion.
Agenda ERCST Publication

Informal Forum on Implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement-April 2022
2022-04-20 - 2022-04-22
The dialogue aimed to create an informal atmosphere where the main objective is to explore, discover, explain and understand different points of view related to the issues in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. That is, to understand the options available to define rules, modalities, and procedures on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the consequences of adopting each option.
This dialogue, by invitation only, intended to bring together 40 to 50 negotiators from around the world including Italy, Finland, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia etc.
Agenda

2022 State of the EU ETS Report - Launch
2022-04-26 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | University Foundation, Rue d’Egmont, 11, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
This was the launch event of the 2022 State of the EU ETS Report. During this event, the report was presented by the authors and discussed by commentators. This was the seventh annual report on the State of the EU ETS. The 2021 edition is available through this link.
The European Commission is required to annually assess, according to the EU ETS Directive, the functioning of the EU ETS and report back to the EU Parliament and Council. On 26 October 2021, the European Commission released its annual “Report on the functioning of the European carbon market”.
The annual “State of the EU ETS” Report aims to provide such an independent contribution to the policy debate, which is needed to ensure that the EU ETS is “fit for purpose”. The Report is intended as a “snapshot”, providing policymakers and stakeholders with an overview of how the EU ETS is doing by April of each year, based on previous year data.
This event covered the 2022 Report. This edition reflected on the track record of the ETS in Phase III and first year of Phase IV, ahead of the upcoming negotiation process, its expected impact on the EU ETS, and the role the ETS is expected to play in the longer term.
Agenda ERCST Slides ERCST Publication

The International Dimension of Hydrogen
2022-04-27 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | ERCST, Rue Archimède 61, Bruxelles, 1000, Belgium
This workstream aims to bring together stakeholders, including policymakers and industry on a regular basis to discuss substantive issues around the topic of hydrogen, informed by original intellectual input from ERCST.
ERCST has accompanied EU institutions and stakeholders in the different stages of the hydrogen regulatory process, identifying missing pieces and shedding more light on issues that needed further clarification.
Now, after having focused on the EU hydrogen policy and regulatory sphere, this event launched ERCST research activities on the international dimension of hydrogen.
This meeting started with a presentation by ERCST, outlining some of the key aspects that shape the international dimension of hydrogen and that may have an impact on the EU hydrogen economy. ERCST presentation was followed by a panel discussion that intended to encourage a discussion on the following questions:

To what extent does the EU need to import hydrogen?
Do we endanger EU industry by supporting hydrogen production in third countries?
How will the landscape in terms of hydrogen global production look like in the future?
Should CBAM cover hydrogen imports? Why yes, why not.

Agenda ERCST Slides ERCST Publication

Designing Carbon Contracts for Difference
2022-04-28 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | ERCST, Rue Archimède 61, Bruxelles, 1000, Belgium
This workstream aims to bring together stakeholders, including policymakers and industry on a regular basis to discuss substantive issues around this topic, informed by original intellectual input from ERCST.
CCfDs are discussed as one of the most promising alternatives to foster the deployment of low-carbon industrial technologies. However, it is still uncertain how CCfDs can be part of the policy mix towards decarbonization.
This meeting started with a presentation by ERCST of the results of a survey carried out among relevant stakeholders aimed to:

Feel stakeholders’ pulse with regards to CCfDs’ rationale and purpose.
Provide further guidance on CCfDs’ key design and implementation features.

ERCST’s presentation also provided an overview of the vision outlined by several member states, with particular emphasis on Germany, France and the UK.
This was followed by a panel discussion geared towards assessing and commenting on the survey’s results.
Agenda ERCST Slides EC Slides Carbon Engineering Slides Agora Slides

2022 State of the EU ETS Report - Launch Webinar
2022-05-05 10:00 - 11:30 UTC | online
The 2022 State of the EU ETS Report is a joint effort between ERCST, BloombergNEF, the Wegener Centre for climate and global change at the University of Graz and EcoAct.
During this webinar the 2022 State of the EU ETS Report was presented by the authors and discussed by commentators. This will be the seventh annual report on the State of the EU ETS. The 2022 edition is available through this link.
The European Commission is required to annually assess, according to the EU ETS Directive, the functioning of the EU ETS and report back to the EU Parliament and Council. On 26 October 2021, the European Commission released its annual “Report on the functioning of the European carbon market”.
The annual “State of the EU ETS” Report aims to provide an independent contribution to the policy debate, which is needed to ensure that the EU ETS is “fit for purpose”. The Report is intended as a “snapshot”, providing policymakers and stakeholders with an overview of how the EU ETS is doing by April of each year, based on previous year data.
This webinar covered the 2022 Report. It reflected on the track record of the ETS in Phase III and first year of Phase IV, ahead of the upcoming negotiation process and its expected impact on the EU ETS, and the role the ETS is expected to play in the longer term.
Agenda Universität Hamburg Slides ERCST Publication Recording

CBAM Global Townhall 2022
2022-05-18 15:00 - 17:00 UTC
The European Commission has put forward a proposal for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) which is the subject of ongoing discussions in the European Parliament and the Council. The lead committee on the CBAM in the European Parliament, ENVI, is voting on the final set of amendments on May 17th. This is a decisive moment for the CBAM on the European stage.
On the global stage, other countries have been reacting to these developments. Some have suggested that BCAs could be an essential element of “climate clubs”, acting both as a common tariff-like wall, and as incentive to join. Others have called for international agreement on principles and best practice. Consequently, the exact role of the CBAM on the international arena remains a subject of debate, even as the EU process moves forward.
No matter what the final shape and role of the CBAM, if it is to be successful, concerns about circumvention need to be allayed. This session, convened by ERCST on the basis of its extensive work on the EU CBAM, will bring together global thought leaders that have explore these critical aspects of CBAM/BCA, unpacking the proposals and considering the options.

ERCST’s work on border carbon adjustment in the EU is made possible by support from CEFIC, EBRD, EdF, Enel, Eurofer, Eurmetaux, ExxonMobil, Fertilizers Europe, the Government of France, the Government of Germany, and MetInvest

Agenda ERCST Slides ENVI vote ERCST Slides Circumvention Recording

State of the EU Green Deal, the climate dimension of REPowerEU
2022-05-19 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
This meeting was part of a series organized by ERCST on the European Green Deal, which started on 8 January 2020 right after the European Commission’s EGD was announced. This work stream aims to bring together policymakers and stakeholders on a regular basis to take stock of recent developments in the EGD framework.
The climate and environmental policies have had an increasing impact on the EU economy. Environmental and climate policies, by setting the trajectory of the energy transition, shape key components of the EU energy system.
During this meeting we assessed the ideas put forward by the Commission from the climate policy perspective, namely to what extent the measures outlined in the REPowerEU Communication represent the most cost efficient way to reduce emissions and meet the EU climate ambitions. We encouraged panelists to provide their views on the following questions:

Is the REPowerEU Communication coherent with the long-term EU climate ambition?
To what extent do the ideas outlined in the REPowerEU Communication represent the most cost-efficient way to reduce emissions?
What is the role nuclear energy or carbon removal technologies should play in decreasing dependency from Russia?

Agenda

EU-Turkey Climate Policy Dialogue: Policy Vision Roadmap for Civil Society
2022-05-24 09:00 - 14:00 UTC | Mövenpick Hotel, Mövenpick Hotel, Ankara, 06560, Turkey
This workshop is part of the project EU – Turkey Climate Policy Dialogue, financed by the European Union within the scope of the Civil Society Dialogue Programme between EU and Turkey, coordinated by the Directorate for EU Affairs.
The aim of this workshop is to present the Policy Vision Roadmap for Civil Society. The roadmap represents the outcome of the projects’ activities and dialogue between European and Turkish civil society which has been established during the past year.
The workshop began with a keynote speech by the Turkish authorities, after which a high-level overview of the climate policy developments in Turkey and the EU and the role of civil society in its development were provided by the invited experts.
These interventions set the floor for the main presentation of the Policy Vision Roadmap for Civil Society by the project team and the interactive panel discussion on the future and role of Civil Society in furthering climate policy. Finally, the moderator opened the floor for a roundtable discussion with other attendees.
Agenda ERCST Slides Policy Vision Roadmap EN Policy Vision Roadmap TR Recording

"Crunch issues" in the hydrogen and gas Directive
2022-05-30 15:00 - 17:00 UTC | online
This meeting intended to shed more light on some key issues in the, back then, proposed Hydrogen and Gas Directive. Namely: the definition for low carbon hydrogen, the regulatory principles for third-party access and the alignment of the proposal with the energy system integration strategy.
This meeting intended to have a substantive discussion on a number of issues:

How could the Directive help hydrogen to be used where is needed the most?

Is the proposed Directive aligned with the energy sector integration strategy?

How could the definition for low-carbon hydrogen be improved? In concrete:

What is the emissions’ scope and the fossil fuel comparator that should be used when defining low-carbon hydrogen?
How could Methane leakage be incorporated into the definition?

Does the proposed regulation on third-party access foster or hinder the development of a hydrogen economy in the EU?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of negotiated third party access until 2030?

Agenda ERCST Slides

Nuclear energy and gas in the EU Taxonomy
2022-06-20 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | ERCST, Rue Archimède 61, Bruxelles, 1000, Belgium
The EU Taxonomy was introduced in 2020 as a reporting tool. The declared goal of Taxonomy is to direct the flow of private capital to finance transition towards climate neutrality. It is a flagship project of the sustainable finance strategy adopted by the European Commission as a part of the European Green Deal.
The Taxonomy, being a product of the regulation – not of market participants – became a label provoking political tensions. Using this label to describe economic activities became a matter of principle, rather than a market instrument. The illustration of this phenomenon is the political debate about qualifying gas and nuclear energy as “sustainable” activities under the Taxonomy.
By July 2022, the European Parliament formally reacted to the Complementary Delegated Act (CDA) which, under some conditions, qualifies gas and the nuclear energy as “green” activities.
The panelists explored the subject-matter along those guiding questions:

How the geopolitical situation affects the role of gas and nuclear energy in the climate transition?
How the CDA will affect the access to finance for gas and nuclear energy projects?
Is there an impact on renewables?

Agenda ERCST Slides
