CO2 shrugs off the Covid-19 slump
Future policy assumptions support the EU ETS after initial hit
European energy markets have been thrown into turmoil by the coronavirus pandemic, with prices for some commodities falling by more than 50pc as demand has plummeted during the enforced lockdown. A combination of housebound workers and a slowdown in commercial and industrial activity has also tipped countries into recession, blighting the economic outlook for the coming months and even years. But European carbon allowance markets are remaining robust, reflecting growing confidence that a long-term economic recovery will focus on low-carbon and sustainable policies. The sudden and sharp decline in economic activity since March did, admittedly, feed through to Europe’s emissions trading system

Also in this section
21 February 2025
While large-scale planned LNG schemes in sub-Saharan Africa have faced fresh problems, FLNG projects are stepping into that space
20 February 2025
Greater social mobility means increased global demand for refined fuels and petrochemical products, with Asia leading the way in the expansion of refining capacity
19 February 2025
The EU would do well to ease its gas storage requirements to avoid heavy purchase costs this summer, with the targets having created market distortion while giving sellers a significant advantage over buyers
18 February 2025
Deliveries to China decline by around 1m b/d from move to curb crude exports to Shandong port, putting Iran under further economic pressure