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WHAT IS sandbag?
Sandbag is a not-for-profit campaign group dedicated to fighting climate change and promoting a low-carbon future.
We believe a big part of the answer lies in the cap and trade of greenhouse gas emissions and we campaign to make sure that existing and planned carbon markets live up to their potential. We shine a light on what's really going on, what's working well, and what needs to be improved. Through changes in these policies literally billions of tonnes can be prevented from entering the atmosphere - our analysis and lobbying of governments helps ensure this is what happens.
Join us in calling for tighter caps on emissions and/or take direct action to cancel carbon permits now.
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See how emissions trading works
Legal caps on emissions are in place across Europe. Use our maps to find out who is capped, how many emissions permits they have been given and where they are sourcing their offsets from. Nearly three quarters of installations now have more permits than they need.
This is why we're campaigning for caps to be tightened and for offsetting reforms.
What's new?
Environment Committee gives back-loading the green light
posted by Rob on 19th Jun 2013

The Environment Committee of the European Parliament today voted to support a proposal to temporarily amend the supply of emissions allowances in the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS). The proposal, better known as ‘back-loading’, has proven contentious, and failed in its initial bid through the parliament in April. This latest proposal contains a number of compromises – including provisions for a new fund and a revision of state aid rules in the context of ETS allowances – tabled by MEPs which have gathered support from parliamentarians

Commenting on the vote today, Sandbag’s Brussels based campaigner Rob Elsworth said:

With this vote the Environment Committee has sent an important political signal: there is still commitment to the EU’s flagship climate policy, the EU ETS, and to action on climate change. Nevertheless, it cannot be ignored that there are still some 1.7 billion surplus allowances in the scheme and work remains to strengthen its environmental integrity. We hope the back-loading proposal swiftly continues through the Parliament and helps pave the way for a meaningful discussion on structural reform of the EU ETS.

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Previous blog posts
10th Jun 2013: Europe risks going backwards on climate change unless emissions targets are increased
30th May 2013: Europe smashes weak 2020 climate target nine years early
2nd May 2013: Surge in offsets threatens to overwhelm EU’s troubled carbon market
29th Apr 2013: Back-loading debate reaches the House of Commons and the House of Lords
16th Apr 2013: What next for the EU ETS?
16th Apr 2013: The European Parliament rejects short term fix for for massive oversupply problem
15th Apr 2013: Vote to support back-loading or those wanting to kill carbon pricing will claim a victory
11th Apr 2013: BASF’s Emissions Trading Burden
2nd Apr 2013: New emissions data builds pressure to rescue Europe’s failing emissions trading scheme

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