Emission allowances have been a topic that has been driving the economies of EU member states for several years now. From this October, importers to the EU will have to prove at what emission costs they produce imported commodities such as iron, steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser or electricity. Consequently, importers will start paying a so-called carbon duty from January 2026.
What are the reasons for this move? It is an attempt to allow a 'green face' to import these commodities from outside the EU, as European capacity will be significantly reduced by emission allowances. According to the European Commission, these measures will lead to the achievement of climate targets.
In this situation, it is important to realise that if emission allowances are to green European industry (in this case, reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production), they will not reduce real consumption of raw materials and energy. These commodities will only be imported from other countries, mainly in Asia, where climate targets are not a priority. That is to say, if we think globally, even if EU countries partially reduce CO2 emissions, nothing will change on a global scale, because European emissions will only be shifted to other countries outside the EU. If European climate targets are to have a real effect, then it is necessary to demand the same or similar climate targets from countries importing into the EU. This new EU strategy may also significantly eliminate European production capacity.
RNDr. Miloš Kužvart, Executive Director of the Czech Academy of Sciences
