Solving the coal puzzle

by | December 18, 2019 | Coal, Europe | 0 Comments

Lessons from four years of coal phase-out policy in Europe

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Playing With Fire

by | December 15, 2019 | Coal, ETS, Europe | 0 Comments

An assessment of company plans to burn biomass in EU coal power stations

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The A-B-C of BCAs

by | December 3, 2019 | Carbon Pricing, Climate Governance, ETS, Europe | 0 Comments

An overview of the issues around introducing Border Carbon Adjustments in the EU

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Coal mine methane leaks are worse for climate change than all shipping and aviation

by | November 13, 2019 | Coal | 0 Comments

New IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal mine methane leaks add up to a third to emissions from coal

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Coal Free Kingdom

by | November 13, 2019 | Coal, UK | 0 Comments

UK election manifestos should commit to take the UK fully coal-free, including in industry, finance, and domestic heating – ready for next year’s COP26 in Glasgow

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The cash cow has stopped giving: Are Germany’s lignite plants now worthless?

by | July 31, 2019 | Carbon Pricing, Coal, ETS | 0 Comments

Our new research finds German lignite gross profits collapsed 54% so far in 2019. With lignite now loss-making, the case for Gov. compensation has collapsed

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We’re a non-profit climate change think tank based in London and Brussels.

We use data analysis to help build evidence-based climate policy. Our current focus is on accelerating the coal phase-out, and winning strong carbon pricing.

Recent reports

 

The Lignite Cash Cow

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The Great Coal Collapse

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UK carbon pricing after Brexit  

UK carbon pricing after Brexit

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How to optimise the ETS funds?  

How to optimise the ETS funds?

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Just Transition or Just Talk?  

Just Transition or Just Talk?

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NEW DATA: 2018 ETS emissions fall  

NEW DATA: 2018 ETS emissions fall

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Halfway There  

Halfway There

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The European Power Sector in 2018  

The European Power Sector in 2018

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The Last Gasp Р The coal companies making Europe sick  

The Last Gasp – The coal companies making Europe sick

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Results: Barriers to Decarbonisation Call for Evidence  

Results: Barriers to Decarbonisation Call for Evidence

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Coal To Clean

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EU emissions rise for first time in 7 years  

EU emissions rise for first time in 7 years

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Climate of Cooperation  

Climate of Cooperation

 

Capacity payments: the final ingredient to supercharge coal

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The European Power Sector in 2017  

The European Power Sector in 2017

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Carbon Leakage Consultation Р Our response  

Carbon Leakage Consultation – Our response

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ETS to ESR: Too much flexibility  

ETS to ESR: Too much flexibility

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Double trouble in the ESR  

Double trouble in the ESR

The future of the EU ETS  

The future of the EU ETS

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State of the EU ETS 2017  

State of the EU ETS 2017

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The ESR flexibility repair kit  

The ESR flexibility repair kit

Germany: The New Carbon Haven  

Germany: The New Carbon Haven

Something Nasty in the Woodshed  

Something Nasty in the Woodshed

The ESR Safety Reserve: Too Safe to Succeed  

The ESR Safety Reserve: Too Safe to Succeed

Aligning Europe’s Policies for Carbon, Efficiency, and Renewables  

Aligning Europe’s Policies for Carbon, Efficiency, and Renewables

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Why is a carbon-intensity threshold needed for Capacity Payments?  

Why is a carbon-intensity threshold needed for Capacity Payments?

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What is the European Project-based Mechanism?  

What is the European Project-based Mechanism?

Brexit & the EU ETS: Greater as the sum or in parts?  

Brexit & the EU ETS: Greater as the sum or in parts?

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A tale of two surpluses  

A tale of two surpluses

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The Carbon Leakage Conundrum  

The Carbon Leakage Conundrum

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The Czech ETS fat cats. České tlusté kočky.  

The Czech ETS fat cats. České tlusté kočky.

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Stay the course: UK manifesto recommendations  

Stay the course: UK manifesto recommendations

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NEW DATA: European coal emissions plummet by 11% in 2016  

NEW DATA: European coal emissions plummet by 11% in 2016

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Any Port in a Storm Р Recommendations for the ETS reform in trialogues  

Any Port in a Storm – Recommendations for the ETS reform in trialogues

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Replacing coal with an electricity storage industry Р NIC response  

Replacing coal with an electricity storage industry – NIC response

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Starting a hydrogen economy on the east coast Р NIC response  

Starting a hydrogen economy on the east coast – NIC response

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Building UK industrial CCS infrastructure Р NIC response  

Building UK industrial CCS infrastructure – NIC response

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How to resuscitate a carbon market  

How to resuscitate a carbon market

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Phasing-out coal by 2023  

Phasing-out coal by 2023

Assessing the ENVI proposal on ETS reform  

Assessing the ENVI proposal on ETS reform

The Three Billion Tonne Problem  

The Three Billion Tonne Problem

The Cement Industry of the Future  

The Cement Industry of the Future

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The Energy Transition in the Power Sector in Europe 2016  

The Energy Transition in the Power Sector in Europe 2016

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The missing link in the Effort Sharing Regulation  

The missing link in the Effort Sharing Regulation

UK Capacity Market analysis  

UK Capacity Market analysis

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Caution! Free allocation on the rise  

Caution! Free allocation on the rise

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Comparing options for ETS reform  

Comparing options for ETS reform

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Addressing EU ETS Oversupply  

Addressing EU ETS Oversupply

A tighter cap grows the funds  

A tighter cap grows the funds

Why does the Carbon Price Support matter?  

Why does the Carbon Price Support matter?

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Puncturing the waterbed myth  

Puncturing the waterbed myth

Cement Exposed: New data from EU cement sector shows no fall in CO2 emissions  

Cement Exposed: New data from EU cement sector shows no fall in CO2 emissions

Lifting EuropeХs Dark Cloud: How cutting coal saves lives  

Lifting Europe’s Dark Cloud: How cutting coal saves lives

A Chance for Responsible Development: Financing the new Polish economic roadmap to 2030  

A Chance for Responsible Development: Financing the new Polish economic roadmap to 2030

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Last Chance Saloon for the EU ETS  

Last Chance Saloon for the EU ETS

Consultation response Р The Effort Sharing Regulation  

Consultation response – The Effort Sharing Regulation

Germany and the EU ETS: Industrial leaders champion a strong EU climate law  

Germany and the EU ETS: Industrial leaders champion a strong EU climate law

Bend it, DonХt break it: Introducing new flexibilities into the EU Effort Sharing Decision  

Bend it, Don’t break it: Introducing new flexibilities into the EU Effort Sharing Decision

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Europe’s dark cloud: How coal-burning countries make their neighbours sick  

Europe’s dark cloud: How coal-burning countries make their neighbours sick

Commercialising CCS: Investor Perspectives  

Commercialising CCS: Investor Perspectives

Stabilising the Market Stability Reserve  

Stabilising the Market Stability Reserve

Getting In Touch With Reality  

Getting In Touch With Reality

Response to the EC consultation on global aviation  

Response to the EC consultation on global aviation

The Effort Sharing Dinosaur  

The Effort Sharing Dinosaur

2015 ETS Emissions Analysis (1st April preliminary data)  

2015 ETS Emissions Analysis (1st April preliminary data)

Amendment to the 2016 Energy Bill: Carbon Accounting Reform  

Amendment to the 2016 Energy Bill: Carbon Accounting Reform

Who are EPH?  

Who are EPH?

Options for Reforming the EU ETS  

Options for Reforming the EU ETS

Cement Р The Final Carbon Fatcat  

Cement – The Final Carbon Fatcat

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Honouring Paris  

Honouring Paris

Sharing the Burden  

Sharing the Burden

Improving the 5th UK carbon budget  

Improving the 5th UK carbon budget

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2015 European Power Sector Review  

2015 European Power Sector Review

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Carbon budget reforms in the Energy Bill  

Carbon budget reforms in the Energy Bill

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The Energy Bill & the coal phase-out: MP briefing  

The Energy Bill & the coal phase-out: MP briefing

The case for a net zero Climate Change Act target  

The case for a net zero Climate Change Act target

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UK Capacity Market Analysis  

UK Capacity Market Analysis

Amendments to the Market Stability Reserve proposal  

Amendments to the Market Stability Reserve proposal

Consultation Response: A proposed amendment to the CFD Regulations  

Consultation Response: A proposed amendment to the CFD Regulations

The EU is on track for 30% cuts by 2020  

The EU is on track for 30% cuts by 2020

A new Energy Market Design for Europe  

A new Energy Market Design for Europe

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The CO2 Economy Р Mineral Carbonation Technology Overview  

The CO2 Economy – Mineral Carbonation Technology Overview

Feedback to the draft ETS Revision  

Feedback to the draft ETS Revision

Bank of England bill Р response  

Bank of England bill – response

EC Consultation on the Circular Economy  

EC Consultation on the Circular Economy

Harder, better, faster, stronger: The easy route to increased EU climate ambition  

Harder, better, faster, stronger: The easy route to increased EU climate ambition

Discharging a political storm  

Discharging a political storm

The Emissions Trading System in context  

The Emissions Trading System in context

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Financing Deep Decarbonisation in Industry  

Financing Deep Decarbonisation in Industry

Consultation response Р The ESD & the 2030 package  

Consultation response – The ESD & the 2030 package

Call for Evidence on the 5th carbon budget  

Call for Evidence on the 5th carbon budget

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Update: 2014 EU ETS Emissions analysis  

Update: 2014 EU ETS Emissions analysis

Decoding the deal Р Explaining the Council agreement on the Market Stability Reserve  

Decoding the deal – Explaining the Council agreement on the Market Stability Reserve

Lithuania and the ETS: Arguments for an enhanced MSR  

Lithuania and the ETS: Arguments for an enhanced MSR

The Czech Republic in the EU ETS  

The Czech Republic in the EU ETS

España en el RCDE  

España en el RCDE

2014 EU ETS Emissions analysis  

2014 EU ETS Emissions analysis

The German ТClimate ContributionУ vs the UKХs ТCarbon Price FloorУ  

The German “Climate Contribution” vs the UK’s “Carbon Price Floor”

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Response to the Consultation on revision of the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) Directive  

Response to the Consultation on revision of the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) Directive

The Eternal Surplus of the Spineless Market  

The Eternal Surplus of the Spineless Market

Voting recommendations for the MSR proposal in ENVI  

Voting recommendations for the MSR proposal in ENVI

Romania in the ETS  

Romania in the ETS

Avoiding the Avalanche  

Avoiding the Avalanche

NGO joint recommendations on the ITRE Market Stability Reserve proposal  

NGO joint recommendations on the ITRE Market Stability Reserve proposal

The UK Capacity Market Р Auction results  

The UK Capacity Market – Auction results

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Request for Internal Review of Commission Carbon Leakage Decision  

Request for Internal Review of Commission Carbon Leakage Decision

Amendments to the MSR proposal Р alternative  

Amendments to the MSR proposal – alternative

Response to the DECC Consultation on Implementing the EPS  

Response to the DECC Consultation on Implementing the EPS

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Is EuropeХs new climate target a walk in the park?  

Is Europe’s new climate target a walk in the park?

Consultation Response on Next steps in CCS Р Developing an approach for the next phase of Carbon Capture & Storage projects in the UK  

Consultation Response on Next steps in CCS – Developing an approach for the next phase of Carbon Capture & Storage projects in the UK

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Slaying the Dragon: Vanquish the surplus and rescue the ETS  

Slaying the Dragon: Vanquish the surplus and rescue the ETS

2020 surplus projection  

2020 surplus projection

UK Capacity Mechanism  

UK Capacity Mechanism

Emergency Briefing objecting to the 2015-19 carbon leakage list  

Emergency Briefing objecting to the 2015-19 carbon leakage list

Do current EU energy and climate policies tackle coal?  

Do current EU energy and climate policies tackle coal?

The Emission Trading Scheme post-2020 carbon leakage provisions  

The Emission Trading Scheme post-2020 carbon leakage provisions

Consultation Response: Carbon Capture and Storage in the EU  

Consultation Response: Carbon Capture and Storage in the EU

Europe’s failure to tackle coal: Risks for the EU low-carbon transition  

Europe’s failure to tackle coal: Risks for the EU low-carbon transition

Policy Briefing on the Market Stability Reserve  

Policy Briefing on the Market Stability Reserve

An introduction to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme  

An introduction to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Sharing the Load: Poland’s coming of age on climate policy  

Sharing the Load: Poland’s coming of age on climate policy

A 2030 Decarbonisation Obligation or Emissions Performance Standard: Breaking the deadlock on EU climate and energy targets  

A 2030 Decarbonisation Obligation or Emissions Performance Standard: Breaking the deadlock on EU climate and energy targets

Carbon budgets vs GHG targets  

Carbon budgets vs GHG targets

Aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme: What happened in 2012 under Stop the Clock  

Aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme: What happened in 2012 under Stop the Clock

Europe’s 2020 confidence trick: Room to grow emissions under the current climate targets  

Europe’s 2020 confidence trick: Room to grow emissions under the current climate targets

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Benefitting from Carbon Markets? German Participation in CDM and JI during the first Kyoto Commitment Period  

Benefitting from Carbon Markets? German Participation in CDM and JI during the first Kyoto Commitment Period

Amendments to UK greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme and national emissions inventory regulations Р Consultation Response  

Amendments to UK greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme and national emissions inventory regulations – Consultation Response

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Reviewing the 4th carbon budget Р Evidence submitted to the Climate Change Committee  

Reviewing the 4th carbon budget – Evidence submitted to the Climate Change Committee

Review of the Balance of Environment and Climate Change Competences between the UK and the European Union Р Evidence submitted to DEFRA  

Review of the Balance of Environment and Climate Change Competences between the UK and the European Union – Evidence submitted to DEFRA

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Progress on carbon budgets Р evidence submitted to the UK Environmental Audit Committee  

Progress on carbon budgets – evidence submitted to the UK Environmental Audit Committee

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Drifting Toward Disaster: The EU ETS adrift in EuropeХs climate efforts  

Drifting Toward Disaster: The EU ETS adrift in Europe’s climate efforts

The Sovereign Emissions Rights Framework  

The Sovereign Emissions Rights Framework

The UK Carbon Floor Price (2013)  

The UK Carbon Floor Price (2013)

EC Consultation response on Structural Options to Reform the EU ETS  

EC Consultation response on Structural Options to Reform the EU ETS

Carbon Fatcat Companies in Greece  

Carbon Fatcat Companies in Greece

Klimagoldesel 2013 Р Carbon Fatcat Companies in Germany  

Klimagoldesel 2013 – Carbon Fatcat Companies in Germany

EU ETS at a crossroads: recalibrating an oversupplied market to spur investments and innovation  

EU ETS at a crossroads: recalibrating an oversupplied market to spur investments and innovation

BIS consultuation submission on compensating Energy Intensive Users  

BIS consultuation submission on compensating Energy Intensive Users

Event Note: Help or Hindrance? Offsetting in the EU ETS  

Event Note: Help or Hindrance? Offsetting in the EU ETS

Help or Hindrance? Offsetting in the EU ETS  

Help or Hindrance? Offsetting in the EU ETS

Belgian Carbon Fatcats  

Belgian Carbon Fatcats

Response to the public consultation on the EU ETS backloading proposal  

Response to the public consultation on the EU ETS backloading proposal

Czech Fat Cats  

Czech Fat Cats

Losing the lead? EuropeХs flagging carbon market  

Losing the lead? Europe’s flagging carbon market

The UK Carbon Floor Price  

The UK Carbon Floor Price

Aviation emissions and the EU ETS  

Aviation emissions and the EU ETS

The ETS and the Energy Efficiency Directive  

The ETS and the Energy Efficiency Directive

CaliforniaХs set-aside model  

California’s set-aside model

Der Klimagoldesel: Wer sind die Gewinner des EU Emissionshandels?  

Der Klimagoldesel: Wer sind die Gewinner des EU Emissionshandels?

Submission to the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee Inquiry into the EU ETS  

Submission to the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee Inquiry into the EU ETS

Buckle Up! Tighten the cap and avoid the carbon crash  

Buckle Up! Tighten the cap and avoid the carbon crash

Carbon Fat Cats 2011  

Carbon Fat Cats 2011

Industrial Gas Big Spenders: HFC and N20 adipic credit usage in 2010  

Industrial Gas Big Spenders: HFC and N20 adipic credit usage in 2010

Fresh concerns over the transparency of the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS)  

Fresh concerns over the transparency of the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS)

Carbo diem: Seizing Italy’s opportunities in the EU ETS  

Carbo diem: Seizing Italy’s opportunities in the EU ETS

E R Who?: Joint Implementation and the EU Emissions Trading System  

E R Who?: Joint Implementation and the EU Emissions Trading System

Cap or trap Р How the EU ETS risks locking-in carbon emissions  

Cap or trap – How the EU ETS risks locking-in carbon emissions

Carbon Fat Cats 2009 Р Company Analysis of the EU ETS  

Carbon Fat Cats 2009 – Company Analysis of the EU ETS

Hydro CERs and the EU ETS  

Hydro CERs and the EU ETS

International Offsets and the EU 2009  

International Offsets and the EU 2009

A closer look at voluntary carbon action  

A closer look at voluntary carbon action

Rescuing the EU ETS from redundancy  

Rescuing the EU ETS from redundancy

Carbon Fat Cats Р Company Analysis of the EU ETS  

Carbon Fat Cats – Company Analysis of the EU ETS

International offsets and the EU  

International offsets and the EU

Lessons learned from the ETS  

Lessons learned from the ETS

The Case of ArcelorMittal  

The Case of ArcelorMittal

10 Reasons to engage with emissions trading  

10 Reasons to engage with emissions trading

EU ETS S.O.S: Why the flagship emissions trading policy needs rescuing  

EU ETS S.O.S: Why the flagship emissions trading policy needs rescuing

Submission to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry into Carbon Markets  

Submission to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry into Carbon Markets

Proposal to introduce tax incentives for voluntary cancellation of permits  

Proposal to introduce tax incentives for voluntary cancellation of permits

All our reports

Our Work

Coal

Accelerating the phase-out of coal power in Europe – ensuring all plants are closed before 2030

Carbon Pricing

Reforming the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and implementing strong regional carbon prices

Data tools and Apps

Sandbag develops innovative tools to shine a light on complex climate policy

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Sandbag is recognised as a top global climate think-tank

An inspirational idea that promises to make a real and positive difference… and a wonderful opportunity to help sort out the climate mess we’ve all created. Prof. Chris Turney is the author of Ice, Mud and Blood: Lessons from Climates Past
Chris Turney

Professor, University of Exeter

Sandbag is playing a crucial role in making sure that Europe’s cornerstone climate policy actually does its job.
Caroline Lucas

United Kingdom MP

Sandbag … strikes a balance between underlining the merits of the EU ETS and criticising the weaknesses.
Connie Hedegaard

Former European Commissioner