Data sources

The EU ETS data viewer hosted by the European Environment Agency (EEA) provides easy access to emission trading data contained in the European Union Transaction Log (EUTL). The EUTL is a central transaction log, run by the European Commission, which checks and records all transactions taking place within the trading system. The EU ETS data viewer provides aggregated data by country, by main activity type and by year on the verified emissions, allowances and surrendered units of the more than 15 000 stationary installations reporting under the EU emission trading system, as well as 1500 aircraft operators. The EEA annual “Trends and Projections” progress reports also contain a lot of data and graphs on emission trends under the EU ETS. 

The EU ETS transaction log The European Union Transaction Log (EUTL) automatically checks, records and authorises all transactions between accounts in the Union Registry. This ensures that all transfers comply with EU ETS rules. The EUTL is the successor of the Community Independent Transaction Log (CITL), which had a similar role before the Union Registry was introduced. The European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG Clima) also publishes excel files reporting on the previous year’s annual verified emissions, compliance data and a list of transactions (with 3 year delay) for each ETS installation. Finally, annual reports on the functioning of the EU ETS are published on DG Clima’s website.

Based on the EU ETS transaction log data, the EUETS.info website managed by Jan Abrell provides information about emissions and compliance behavior under the EU ETS. It  provides information on the level of emitting installations as well as on the country level.  

The European Industrial Emission Portal  presents information on the largest industrial complexes in Europe, regulated by the Industrial Emissions Directive. It contains data on releases and transfers of regulated substances to the environment, waste transfers as well as more detailed data on energy input and emissions for large combustion plants in EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It allows the user to access data on pollutant emissions ranging from greenhouse gases, to heavy metals to particulate matter etc.

The Central Data Repository (CDR) managed by the European Environment Agency centralises Member States reporting data on the environment. For example, the reporting on the application of the EU ETS Directive, and information on the use of EU ETS auctioning revenues can be found here.

Legislative sources

The primary EU legislation relevant for the EU ETS is the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The governing principles for Environmental EU lawmaking are in Article 191 (ia. the precautionary and polluter pays principles). The body of law that comes from the principles and objectives of the treaties is known as secondary law; and includes EU Regulations, Directives and Decisions. 

The EUR-Lex  is the  official website of European Union law and other public documents of the EU.  On EUR-LEX you can find for example the current and past ETS Directives, the Decision establishing the Market Stability Reserve of the Decision establishing the 2021 cap of the EU ETS. The EC’s proposal and  an exhaustive legislative history of the Directive can be found on the DG Climate Action website – all relevant legislative documents are published under “Documentation” at the bottom of each page.

The European Parliament Legislative Observatory contains an overview of the current and past legislative procedures in the European Parliament, including the review of the EU ETS, including timeline, rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs responsible in the different Committees. Also the Legislative Train schedule shows information  about legislation arriving  at the Parliament, in this case the Revision of the EU ETS Directive.  Finally, also the European Council has an overview of the Fit for 55 package with a timeline detailing progress and links to public ministerial debates.

Other resources

Votewatch.eu compiles voting behaviour of all MEPs in the European Parliament. A free login is required to access more detailed information. InfluenceMap provides data and evidence of business and industry lobbying on climate policy. A free login is required to access a 100+ company database and disclosure reports on industry association lobbying.

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LifeETX is implemented by a consortium of 10 NGOs working at national and European level