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EU Emissions Trading Scheme

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) came into operation on 1 January 2005. The scheme operates on a "cap and trade" basis. EU Member State governments are required to set an emissions cap for each installation in the scheme. The number of allowances allocated to each installation must be set down in the National Allocation Plan (NAP) for the period in question, which must be approved by the European Commission. 

The EPA is the competent authority for the purposes of the ETS in Ireland. Further details are outlined on their website, www.epa.ie

 

National Allocation Plan 2008 - 2012


In preparation for the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for the Kyoto Protocol Commitment Period (2008 - 2012), the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government engaged ICF Consulting and Byrne Ó Cléirigh Consultants to review and update greenhouse gas emission projections in the Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008-2012.

Following consideration of the ICF/Byrne Ó Cléirigh Report, the Government has agreed on how the responsibility for bridging this gap will be shared between the Emissions Trading Sector (the 109 installations in the electricity and large industry sectors which have significant emissions) and the rest of the economy. The Trading Sector will meet about 3 million tonnes of the reduction, leaving about 4 million for the rest of the economy.

 

EU Directives and National Legislation


National Legislation governing the EU ETS is set out in the following Regulations:

  • SI 244 of 2006 designating the Environmental Protection Agency as Focal Point for the purposes of Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol and National Authority for the purposes of Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol.

  • SI 437 of 2004 Emissions Trading Regulations transposes the Emissions Trading Directive (2003/87/EC) in Ireland and provides the framework for the implementation of the Scheme in Ireland, including the designation of the Environmental Protection Agency as the competent authority for administering the scheme.

  • SI 706 of 2005 amends the Emissions Trading Regulations to provide for the use of credits from the Kyoto Protocol project mechanisms by operators in the Emissions Trading Scheme and transposes the Linking Directive (2004/101/EC).

 

Further Information


Further details on ETS are contained on this site as follows:

 

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