Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: The Good, Bad & Ugly

As Ursula Von der Leyen emphasised in her State of the European Union 2020 address, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is aimed at motivating foreign producers and EU importers to reduce their carbon emissions, while ensuring a level playing field in a WTO-compatible way.

On one hand, CBAM has many supporters, helping the EU prevent carbon leakage, slash greenhouse gas emissions, and boost Europe’s efforts to go climate-neutral by 2050.

On the other hand, putting a carbon price on imports of certain goods from outside the EU could create a number of challenges and disruptions in a world already divided by trade wars. CBAM’s exact design and form is still to be defined but industry is already reeling from its potential impact in several sectors.

Against the backdrop of the European Commission conducting public consultations on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), FIPRA’s latest Intelligence Series webinar brought together a star-studded lineup of speakers sharing views and insights into this measure aiming to prevent carbon leakage and slash greenhouse gas emissions in Europe.

Among the questions to be debated in our dynamic, interactive session are:

• What are the design options for a CBAM and how would they work in practice?
• What is the best way to measure emissions and verify the numbers?
• What impact will CBAM have on different industries?
• Can CBAM be compatible with WTO rules?
• How would CBAM relate to the Emissions Trading System (ETS)?
• How to ensure CBAM is applied fairly, rewards innovation and boosts the Green Deal?