Suchergebnisse

We calculate the expected distributional effects of the European Emissions Trading System combining industry and household-level data. By combining data on direct CO2 emissions by production sector from the German Environmental Account with the German Input-Output Accounts, we calculate the CO2 intensity of each sector covered by the EU ETS. We focus on the impact of price increases in the electricity sector, both directly in the form of higher electricity bills for consumers and indirectly through products that use electricity as an input to production. Distributional effects of price increases are analyzed on the basis of the German Income and Expenditure Survey for the year 2008 data and updated to 2013. We confirm the ex-ante expected regressive effect, which is, however, both rather small in magnitude and can be offset and even more than offset by revenue recycling, in particular the reduction of social security contributions on labour income.

This thesis analyses two energy and climate policy instruments – namely renewable energy policy and the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) – in the context of the distribution of costs and benefits arising from these policies. Household- and industry-level data, as well as market data on carbon and electricity prices are investigated using a combination of descriptive analysis and econometric methods, including time-series regression and choice modelling. Results imply that industry exemptions from contributing to the cost of both renewable energy policy and emissions trading have led to unexpected and considerable profits to the companies covered by those schemes. This has resulted in households bearing the majority of the costs associated with these policies. Exploratory analysis indicates that low-income households are particularly affected by the associated price increases, because they spend a large fraction of their income on electricity and other emissions-intensive goods. This thesis shows that policy makers have many options at their disposal with which these policies can be made more equitable. The main design choices with regards to emissions trading concern the level of free allocation and the use of revenue from the auctions of the remaining allowances not allocated for free. In relation to renewable energy policy, the scope and extent of exemptions for industry from contributing to the cost of the policy and the structure of wholesale and retail electricity markets play a decisive role. Moreover, policy makers should recognise opportunities to reach both environmental and distributional goals across the whole policy portfolio. One example is the use of auctioning revenue from emissions trading to fund energy efficiency measures targeted at vulnerable households. The results of this thesis suggest that there is no basis for pitching climate protection against equity concerns, but rather that there are many opportunities for policy makers to formulate an integrated approach that addresses both issues concurrently.

This thesis analyses two energy and climate policy instruments – namely renewable energy policy and the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) – in the context of the distribution of costs and benefits arising from these policies. Household- and industry-level data, as well as market data on carbon and electricity prices are investigated using a combination of descriptive analysis and econometric methods, including time-series regression and choice modelling. Results imply that industry exemptions from contributing to the cost of both renewable energy policy and emissions trading have led to unexpected and considerable profits to the companies covered by those schemes. This has resulted in households bearing the majority of the costs associated with these policies. Exploratory analysis indicates that low-income households are particularly affected by the associated price increases, because they spend a large fraction of their income on electricity and other emissions-intensive goods. This thesis shows that policy makers have many options at their disposal with which these policies can be made more equitable. The main design choices with regards to emissions trading concern the level of free allocation and the use of revenue from the auctions of the remaining allowances not allocated for free. In relation to renewable energy policy, the scope and extent of exemptions for industry from contributing to the cost of the policy and the structure of wholesale and retail electricity markets play a decisive role. Moreover, policy makers should recognise opportunities to reach both environmental and distributional goals across the whole policy portfolio. One example is the use of auctioning revenue from emissions trading to fund energy efficiency measures targeted at vulnerable households. The results of this thesis suggest that there is no basis for pitching climate protection against equity concerns, but rather that there are many opportunities for policy makers to formulate an integrated approach that ...

Allein durch die ökologische Steuerreform sind die Preise für Benzin und Diesel zwischen 1998 und 2003 in Deutschland in mehreren Schritten um über 20 Prozent gestiegen. Der Großteil des aus der Erhöhung der Energiesteuersätze resultierenden Aufkommens wurde zur Stabilisierung der Rentenversicherungsbeiträge verwendet. Hat die Ökosteuer neben diesem fiskalischen Ziel auch einen Beitrag zur nachhaltigen Reduktion des Verkehrsaufkommens der privaten Haushalte in Deutschland, somit zur Verringerung der CO2- Emissionen und damit zum Erreichen des deutschen Kyoto-Ziels beigetragen? Die Beantwortung dieser Fragen setzt die Kenntnis der Preiselastizität der Verkehrsnachfrage in Deutschland voraus, für die bisher kaum Schätzungen vorliegen. In einer neuen DIW Studie wurde diese Preiselastizität auf der Basis von Haushaltsdaten berechnet. Unsere Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass die gefahrenen Kilometer durchaus auf Benzinpreisänderungen reagieren. Eine Ökosteuer im Verkehrssektor allein kann aber kein Klimaretter sein. Sie ist nur eines von vielen Instrumenten im umweltpolitischen Mix.

Enthält außerdem: "Die Ökosteuer ist bisher eher ein Instrument der Steuer- als der Umweltpolitik" : sieben Fragen an Viktor Steiner. - S. 3

"Die größte Klimakonferenz der Geschichte ist vorbei und zwei Monate später sind die Meinungen über ihre Bedeutung für den Kampf gegen den Klimawandel und zukünftige internationale Klimaverhandlungen weiterhin geteilt. In diesem Beitrag wird die Bedeutung der Kopenhagen-Konferenz für Australien und einiger seiner Nachbarn genau untersucht." (Autorenreferat)

We calculate the expected incidence of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) using industry and household-level data. By combining data on direct CO2 emissions by production sector from the German Environmental Account with the German Input-Output Accounts, we calculate the CO2 intensity of each sector covered by the EU-ETS. We focus on the impact of price increases in the electricity sector, both directly in the form of higher electricity bills for consumers and indirectly through products that use electricity as an input to production. Taking into account behavioral effects derived from an estimated consumer-demand system, we provide incidence calculations on the basis of the German Income and Expenditure Survey for the year 2008 data updated to 2013. We confirm the ex-ante expected regressive effect, which is, however, both rather small in magnitude and can be offset and even more than offset by revenue recycling, in particular the reduction of social security contributions on labor income.

Mit dem 'Fit for 55' Paket wurde das energie- und klimapolitische Instrumentarium der EU auf das neue Klimaziel für 2030 (minus 55 % gegenüber 1990) ausgerichtet. Das Fit for 55 Paket ist maßgeblich durch eine Stärkung des Europäischen Emissionshandels (EU-ETS) geprägt. Dieses Factsheet skizziert die zentralen Aspekte für das bestehende Europäische Emissionshandelssystem für stationäre Anlagen und den Luftverkehr (EU-ETS-1), das ab 2024 um den Seeverkehr erweitert wird. Außerdem werden Änderungen an der zugehörigen Marktstabilitätsreserve (MSR-1) dargestellt. Zur Schaffung eines neuen Emissionshandelssystems insbesondere für Gebäude und den Straßenverkehr (EU-ETS-2) wurde ein eigenes Factsheet erstellt.

Die EU führt zum 1. Oktober 2023 ein ⁠CO2⁠-Grenzausgleichssystem (⁠CBAM⁠) ein. Die Grundidee besteht darin, im Ausland produzierte emissionsintensive Güter mit dem gleichen CO2-Preis zu belegen wie in der EU hergestellte Güter. Damit soll verhindert werden, dass die heimische Industrie, die im Rahmen des EU-ETS steigende CO2-Kosten zu tragen hat, in Länder ohne vergleichbare CO2-Bepreisung verlagert wird. Dies wäre nicht im Sinne des Klimaschutzes. Das Factsheet erklärt Ziele und Funktionsweise des neuen Klimaschutzinstruments.

The EU will introduce a carbon border adjustment mechanism (⁠CBAM⁠) on October 1, 2023. The main idea is to apply the same carbon price to imported emission-intensive goods as if they had been produced under EU carbon pricing rules (EU ETS). This is intended to prevent the relocation of domestic industry, which has to bear rising ⁠CO2⁠ costs within the EU ETS, to countries without comparable carbon pricing. This would not protect the climate. The factsheet explains the objectives and functioning of the new climate protection instrument.