Posted by Melody in Managing
Spain may prove to be the first European country where the EU ETS comes under extreme pressure, according to a report by Energy Business Review Online. Indeed, 77% of the 2005 allowances issued according to the NAP have already been emitted, according to this source. Due to the current drought, Spanish utilities had to switch from hydro to oil generation, thus further driving CO2 emissions. With the high oil prices, the Spanish power price regulation authority will come under increasing pressure from both the generators and the consumers.
The easiest way out may be to loosen the allocation – or if the EU commission does not agree, blame “Europe” for the increasing power prices on the national level, and thus strengthen the anti-European campaigners. If this happens, the EU will be the looser either way – as an integrating body, or as the climate policy forerunner loosing the grip. However, with the CO2 prices literally disintegrating, the situation could also (hopefully) solve out by itself, soon.
Most piquant: Many people see climate change as one cause of the drought itself – a vicious circle!
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