Achim Wambach: What helps against CO2 emissions?

Steep thesis
Why not flying and green electricity do not reduce CO2 emissions

BRIGITTE: Until now I thought: If I came from Hamburg to… By taking the train to Paris instead of flying, I am acting in an environmentally conscious manner. Now you claim: This doesn’t change anything about CO2 emissions. Why?

ACHIM WAMBACH: Because intra-European flights are covered by emissions trading. This means: Currently, every airline and every industrial company has to buy a certificate for every ton of CO2 they emit. If you and a few others prefer to take the train to Paris, the airline may need fewer certificates, but these will not disappear from the market. Another company then buys what’s left. And in the end, CO2 emissions in the EU are the same again. The same is true for electricity generators, which are also involved in certificate trading.

That means: I could also give myself the green electricity or the construction of a solar system on the roof of my house?

For environmental reasons, yes. However, a solar system is financially worthwhile given the current electricity prices. Or a heat pump. That is exactly the purpose of emissions trading – to make fossil energy more expensive so that renewable energy becomes cheaper in comparison.

Is it good for the environment if the certificates are hawked like this and all airlines, energy producers and industry across Europe can use them?

This is a measure with which we can gradually reduce CO2 emissions. The certificates currently cost almost 100 euros per ton. The nice thing about the current system is that more and more companies are saying: I would have bought the certificate for 90 euros, but from 100 euros the more ecological approach is profitable for me. Everyone across Europe is thinking about this right now. And if there are fewer and fewer certificates due to politics, CO2 emissions will automatically decrease. We are currently able to reduce 40 percent of all emissions.

Does the ecological footprint of every single person help us at all?

No, we will not achieve the energy transition through appeals to morality.

Would you therefore not give society responsibility for environmental protection?

This area has to go through politics like all other fields. With youth unemployment, no one would think: I can now only shop at Rewe because they train a lot of young people. This happened when it came to environmental protection because many people had the impression that politics couldn’t manage it. However, the customer cannot take responsibility at all. He doesn’t know whether the tomato in the supermarket from the region or from Spain is ultimately more environmentally friendly. This requires laws and regulations.

But it must be possible to do something yourself that really protects the environment.

Then you should avoid intercontinental flights, drive less and eat less meat. All of this does not yet fall under certificate trading and therefore has a direct impact.

Do you swear by emissions trading as a kind of panacea for all sectors?

No. This is difficult in agriculture: How much methane does an organic cow emit? Possibly more than non-organic beef. A comparable size per animal could be determined for a certificate trade, but what is needed here is new economic models with a simultaneous reduction in meat. But there will also be certificates for “buildings” and “traffic” in Europe from 2027. In addition, we need better infrastructure and more research into green hydrogen. Emissions trading alone will not be enough. However, if petrol and diesel become more expensive due to the certificates, people might switch to the cheaper train.

Your book “Climate Must Be Worth It” says: Our economy has grown by 60 percent since 1990, and emissions have fallen by 24 percent through compensation payments. Is our path better than doom scenarios?

We are on a good way. However, climate policy must take a step forward so that we in the EU are climate neutral by 2050. However, increased prices for environmental reasons and what small households can still afford quickly get in the way. So it’s not so easy to always apply the right levers. You have to think about society. But Europe is only responsible for ten percent of emissions worldwide.

Does that mean: It almost doesn’t matter what we do here in Europe?

Not at all. We should be a role model, i.e. take a path that can be copied. China has now also introduced certificate trading because it works here. That’s why our responsibility is so high right now: it’s about CO2 emissions worldwide.

Bridget