Adrien Assous

Climate policy and finance. Work at @sandbag_eu

[FORESIGHT Climate & Energy @Foresight_CE]

The European Union’s new carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) is in its pilot phase before being fully deployed in 2026. This period is meant to allow regulators to see how the policy works in the real world.

In today’s episode of The Jolt, @SamJamesMorgan looks at how a loophole in the EU’s new carbon border tax could undermine the bloc’s energy transition.

One potentially major loophole has already been identified: scrap steel and aluminium imports are exempt from CBAM charges. @adrienassous , executive director of think tank @sandbag_eu , and Ana MINGO, EU energy policy expert at @NorskHydroASA , join The Jolt to explain why the loophole needs to be closed.

“What we found is that there are some serious, serious flaws in how CBAM is currently set up. And if they’re not addressed they could end up undermining the very goals that CBAM is trying to achieve,” Ana MINGO, Senior Manager, EU Affairs - Energy & Climate, Norsk Hydro

Plus Japan sticks with nuclear power.

Listen to the article: https://t.co/n71evXAiqW
Download our award winning app: https://t.co/fSQ5HLLTDF

[Sandbag @sandbag_eu]

🎙️Last Sunday, Sandbag's @AdrienAssous participated in the 2024 China Carbon Market Conference in Wuhan.
🇨🇳 Adrien's main advice to Chinese policymakers based on experience gathered in the EU:
🔹don't give away free emission permits
🔹stay away from offsets!

📰More on the event: https://t.co/mExlhRqEdF

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

❤️ drum’n’bass? Interested in #greenHydrogen?
Then watch this!

[Richard Lowes @heatpolicyrich]

I've heard repeatedly that new members of parliament are being lobbied by the gas industry on hydrogen for heating which we all know is a terrible idea.

Here are the facts about hydrogen, the reasons for the lobbying and what we must do - to a drum and bass soundtrack. 🕺🕺

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

So true 😂

[Nick Young @nickofnz]

Carbon offsetting explained.

#ClimateCrisis

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

I can’t believe the news today.

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

Pourquoi faut-il tant d'aide publique pour décarbonner ? Eh bien, déjà parce qu'on en reçoit beaucoup si l'on pollue !

https://t.co/X5Yt7aoskg

[Sandbag @sandbag_eu]

'The current free allocation system does not create incentives to decarbonise.'

In a joint op-ed with @CarbonMrktWatch in @CarbonPulse today we examine the revised rules for #EUETS free allocation ahead of the end of the public consultation on Jan 2nd.
https://t.co/aQZ196KSjj

[Make My Money Matter @MMMoneyMatter]

Ever wondered what your pension gets up to when you’re not looking?​

Meet Oblivia Coalmine 🔥​

#FrackingHell

[Sandbag @sandbag_eu]

🇪🇺 EU factories producing flat #steel generally use less than 20% scrap.

🔵 Why not more? It costs more to recycle than to produce steel from fresh iron ore because of free allocation rules under the #EUETS. Free permits are worth about 180 euros per tonne of steel.

[Sandbag @sandbag_eu]

REACTION TO THE #EUETS TRILOGUE AGREEMENT. The deal perpetuates the free allocation of emission permits to polluters, which is bad for circularity, low-carbon products and the carbon market. 1/5
https://t.co/TsQgb56yDg

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

@pcanfin Mais pourquoi fixer la liste des précurseurs dans le scope (Annexe I), empêchant la Commission d’en ajouter via l’Article 7(6) pour le calcul des émissions importées?

[Sandbag @sandbag_eu]

It’s not just about size. We need to talk about what the Innovation Fund should do.

👉It holds in two words: Spend Smarter!

Read more here @zajicekjaro, @peterliese https://t.co/Rg12FO696I

[Sandbag @sandbag_eu]

Hot off the press ! Read our latest report:

Spend Smarter - A bit of advice on Climate Innovation Financing

https://t.co/Rg12FO696I

with special thanks to @ClientEarth for their contributions

#climate #euets #innovation

[Sandbag @sandbag_eu]

Recyclers raise the alarm over ETS free allocations for large steelmakers

Read about our joint letter with @EuRIC_Recycling in @Euractiv's "News in brief" below:
https://t.co/njtrSoy6BN

#climate #Sustainability #carbon

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

@solar_chase @lara_hayim 17 years, this is bringing some memories back!

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

On and on rolls the surplus 👎 That’s totally UNFIT for 55!

[Sandbag @sandbag_eu]

Yesterday @EP_Environment voted on the MSR Review where, disappointingly, the Commission & MEPs didn't push for any changes to the MSR’s trigger thresholds. 👎Those thresholds are oversized by 1) lower-carbon electricity in Europe 2) Brexit 3) no need for spot EUAs to hedge power

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

@CarbonReporter Totally agree! @sandbag_eu explained how free allocation made #EUA a hyper-cyclical asset:
- up: prices can spiral up with no industry response;
- down: any financial crunch can spark mass sales of surplus.
https://t.co/v4JAjW8T0B

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

Good depiction of the #hydrogen blending problem.

https://t.co/cGDg9vPdgS

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

#euets #OCTT

[Sandbag @sandbag_eu]

📢Today is #ENVI Council where Env. Ministers must commit to:
✅Abolish free allocation in the EU ETS to reduce perverse incentives
✅Reform the Innovation Fund to focus on emissions reduction
✅Remove the many loopholes that allow emissions to overshoot the cap
#FitFor1Point5

[Adrien Assous @adrienassous]

@CarbonReporter Hang on: 🇩🇪coal phase-out + 🇩🇪 floor price = less emissions in 🇪🇺 so why is 🇪🇺carbon price rising? #euets #OCTT