Pollitt, M. G., Dolphin, G. G.

Should the EU ETS be extended to road transport and heating fuels?

CWPE2152

Abstract: This paper considers the current proposal to extend the EU ETS to cover CO2 emissions from the combustion of heating and road transport fuels. We argue that increased coverage of the EU ETS, together with a binding cap consistent with a net zero trajectory, would be a powerful dynamic incentive to efficient emissions reduction. In addition, it would complement standards-based policies currently enacted in these sectors in several ways. Distributional implications remain a serious challenge to such an extension but several mechanisms are available to alleviate them.

Keywords: climate policy, emissions trading, EU, net zero

JEL Codes: Q52 Q54 Q58

Author links: Michael Pollitt  

PDF: https://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/research-files/repec/cam/pdf/cwpe2152.pdf

EPRG Paper Link: EPRG2119

Open Access Link: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.107503

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