ÍþÁ¦²ÊÍæ·¨

In a guest commentary published by the business daily Handelsblatt, Franz Untersteller, environment minister of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Green member of the federal parliament Oliver Krischer call for a CO₂ price to be set for energy sources harmful to the climate. They propose to introduce a CO₂ floor price for plants under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), in coordination with Germany’s European neighbours and with the long-term goal of establishing an EU-wide floor price. In sectors not included in the ETS, tax rates for coal, oil, and natural gas should be adapted to reflect actual CO₂ emissions, they argue. The CO₂ price should equal the current electricity tax, which would subsequently be abolished, write Untersteller and Krischer.

For background on reform proposals, read the ÍþÁ¦²ÊÍæ·¨ factsheet Germany ponders how to finance renewables expansion in the future.