http://ec.europa.eu/clima/news/articles/news_2012111203_en.htm

"We support this step. But back-loading only 900 million allowances is not enough to re-establish an effective carbon market in Europe. The Commission itself estimates the oversupply of allowances to reach 2 billion by the end of 2013", said Rémi Gruet, Senior Adviser for Climate and Environment at the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

EWEA warns: with low carbon and coal prices, a switch from gas to coal is already happening in electricity production and the risk of new coal-fired capacity investments is very real. "We need a high and stable carbon price, which together with renewable energy targets, will drive investment decisions in the power sector towards wind energy and other renewables, rather than locking in fossil fuels for the next 40 years.", said Gruet.

As the economic crisis continues, oversupply of emissions allowances is likely to be higher than anticipated by the Commission, especially given the recent decision on aviation http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-12-854_en.htm

"I urge the Members of the European Parliament and the EU Council to swiftly agree on the Commission's proposal to backload allowances, and to enable a discussion on a long-term structural solution to the ETS", said Gruet.

For more information contact:
Peter Sennekamp, EWEA
[email protected]
+32 2 213 18 33