Protection against carbon leakage must be a priority

On the occasion of the conference of economics ministers of the federal states in Düsseldorf, which begins today, the Steel Industry Association makes it clear that increased coordination between the EU, the federal government and the federal states is necessary for the transformation of industry. One of the pressing questions is how the steel industry can be effectively protected against carbon leakage.

"The current political proposals in Brussels on a possible CO2 border adjustment fill us with great concern. An instrument designed to protect energy-intensive industrial production from migration to other regions with lower climate protection requirements must function reliably. The approach of the EU Commission, which has been discussed so far, cannot achieve this. We therefore expect the state economics ministers to speak out clearly in favour of free allocation within the framework of the EU emissions trading scheme. Only with effective carbon leakage protection can the entry into the transformation succeed," explains Hans Jürgen Kerkhoff, President of the Steel Industry Association.

Especially against the background of the renewed tightening of climate targets, steel companies now need reliable political decisions quickly. Kerkhoff: "It is right and proper that the steel action plan is on the agenda of the Conference of Economic Ministers. A decisive and coordinated approach is now needed so that the path to a climate-neutral steel industry can be made a success. The EU Green Deal needs a clear industrial policy orientation, because the regional perspectives depend more than ever on how the course is set in Brussels."

Source: Wire Draht www.umformtechnik.net