Big polluters given almost €100bn in free carbon permits by EU

Free allowances in direct contradiction with the polluter pays principle', WWF report says

Big polluting industries have been given almost 100bn (86bn) in free carbon permits by the EU in the last nine years, according to an analysis by the WWF. The free allowances are in direct contradiction with the polluter pays principle", the group said.

Free pollution permits worth 98.5bn were given to energy-intensive sectors including steel, cement, chemicals and aviation from 2013-21. This is more than the 88.5bn that the EU's emissions trading scheme (ETS) charged polluters, mostly coal and gas power stations, for their CO₂ emissions.