CDU Economic Council calls for global ETS

German business association CDU Economic Council, associated with Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), called on Germany and the EU to work towards a global regime to reduce CO₂ emissions “like the ETS” (European Union Emissions Trading System). In a paper on future EU economic policy, the council says that the “CO₂ price signal” of the ETS should be extended to all sectors. “Ideologically-led discussions about an accelerated exit from coal-fired power generation as a national solo-run are not target-oriented,” the council adds. Supply security and competitiveness must be treated of equal rank as sustainable climate protection, it writes. To create the energy union that has been planned for years, the council demands the accelerated expansion of cross-border grids, the harmonisation of national support systems and the exploitation of energy efficiency potentials on a European level. The council further calls for Europe-wide technology-neutral renewables auctions and the accelerated market integration of renewable energies.

Find the position paper in German here.

For background, read the CLEW dossier Germany's energy transition in the European context and the article German environment minister open to national carbon price.