Change in the redistribution of money from emission allowances

23.05.2024 15:04

The Minister of the Environment Tomáš Taraba wants to newly decide where the revenues from emission allowances will go. Currently, part of the sum must go to firmly defined areas. The non-parliamentary Democrats (Demokrati) criticise the changes. The amendment to the act is in the inter-ministerial comment procedure.

Emission allowances must be purchased by large enterprises that produce high amounts of greenhouse gases. These include, for example, steelworks or refineries.

„The purpose of the whole trading system is essentially for these large producers to try to limit their emissions as much as possible. This means that they have to calculate how many emissions they have released into the air,“ Alena Popovičová, an expert on emission allowances, managing director of ARP Enviro.

The purchase of emission allowances brings approximately 300 million euros into the state budget annually. Currently, a fixed percentage of the money goes back into industry or, for example, also into the insulation of buildings. The Minister of the Environment Tomáš Taraba wants to newly decide where the millions of euros will go.

"For years we fought for there to be a precise division of the use of this money. But today it is in the act, that is, in the inter-ministerial comment procedure, where the minister proposes that these percentages be abolished and the minister will decide on the use of the revenue from the Environmental Fund. We will certainly comment on it, we will discuss it with the ministry,"

says Andrej Lasz, Secretary General of APZD

„Specific percentage shares should certainly be incorporated, ones that would be set and fixed for industry, for towns and municipalities, for water supply and sewerage systems, for national parks, whose funding depends on the Environmental Fund, so that we have clearly predictable rules. I fear that if that is not the case, then Minister Taraba will abuse such a broad authorisation,“ Michal Kiča, environmentalist (Democrats).

The Minister of the Environment Tomáš Taraba rejects the accusations. He claims that the ministry will continue to redistribute the money according to the European directive and only for climate purposes.

The amendment to the act on emission allowances is currently in the inter-ministerial comment procedure. It must still be approved by the government and the parliament.

You can learn more in the report on RTVS.