EU carbon-trade scheme fails to reduce greenhouse gases

onJun 5, 2007 @ 10:17 PDT

The EU‘s Emission Trading Scheme, launched in 2005 under British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s drive to combat climate change, created a trade in carbon allowances. A government minister has promised the next phase will be a big improvement, but the BBC maintains it’s just “a permit to pollute.”

Under the plan, power generators received their allowances free of charge but were allowed to reflect the value of those in increased prices to customers, as if the companies had actually had to buy the allowances.

Energywatch, a consumer group, says this increased electricity bills by about 7% in 2005. According to one UK government estimate, that delivered windfall profits of up to £1.3bn to the generators. So far the carbon scheme has brought no clear payback in terms of cutting emissions.

By Bill Miller

Carney Government Knew Carbon Capture Was ‘Very Limited,’ Docs Show

ByGeoff Dembicki

onFeb 20, 2026 @ 06:01 PST

Briefing notes obtained by DeSmog reveal the Carney government had major knowledge gaps about CCS even as it made the technology central to its climate plan.

Series: Mark Carney’s Climate Betrayal

Series: Carney's Climate Betrayal

Analysis

Alberta Separatism Has Always Been About Joining Trump’s America

ByMitch Anderson

onFeb 19, 2026 @ 07:22 PST

Leaders of the Alberta separatist movement are insisting they do not want to become the U.S.’s 51st state, but their actions (and own words) say otherwise.