Commission holds meeting on NOx and SO2 trading

An informal meeting was organised earlier this month by the European Commission with Member States and stakeholders on establishing an EU-wide NOxⁱ and SO2 trading scheme for IPPCⁱ (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) installations. The pollutants are regulated under the EU’s 1996 IPPC Directive, which is currently being revised (see February Eurobrief). Several EU industry associations, including CEMBUREAU, are against any move to set up a cap and trade system for NOx and SO2. In a consultation in May 2007, the overwhelming majority of stakeholders took the view that such a scheme is unnecessary, and CEMBUREAU remains confident that the proposal can be avoided. The issue nonetheless remains on the agenda of energy-intensive industries.