Facilitating Socially Just Carbon Pricing Policies in Central and Eastern Europe

Status
Current project
Date range
-
Smoke, pollution, building
© Marcin Jozwiak/Unsplash.com

Project regions

Countries
  • Poland
  • Romania

Partners

Partners
  • Babes-Bolyai University (BBU) - Center for the Study of Democracy
  • Oeko-Institut e.V.

Project-related Links

Project-related Links
European Climate Initiative (EUKI) - Socially Just Carbon Pricing Policies in C…
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Extending carbon pricing to additional sectors, particularly road transport and buildings, is critical to reaching the EU’s long-term climate targets and will form a central policy of the European Green Deal framework. The increase in energy-costs from carbon pricing, however, will have a strong social justice dimension, especially in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries with lower household incomes and more dependence on fossil energy.

A new Social Climate Fund is being developed to make sure that vulnerable households are not left behind. But much work needs to be done to understand just who should be supported, with what measures, and how these should be implemented. In the end, effectively identifying and compensating vulnerable groups is vital for carbon pricing to gain and maintain support over time.

Carbon pricing can be compatible with social goals.

Alexander Eden, Project Lead and Advisor at adelphi

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Älteres Pärchen sitzt am Sockel einer Statue und trinkt Cola auf einem Marktplatz in Sibiu, Rumänien
© Constanta Kleo/Unsplash
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Our project aims to strengthen the knowledge base on carbon pricing for mobility and heating across Europe, in particular Poland and Romania. Our research seeks to better understand the potential adverse impacts of carbon pricing on different groups and find appropriate avenues to address them. We will engage a broad range of actors, from key Polish and Romanian stakeholders to national and European-level policymakers, and thereby seek to bridge the gap between climate and social policy within the case countries and beyond.

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Gelbe Straßenbahn hält an einer Station in der Warschauer Innenstadt
© Tomasz/Pixabay
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Together with our partners, adelphi is taking a key role in the project, both directing and contributing to the research, publications, and outreach activities. Key publications will include a broad ranging policy report, focusing on Europe-wide impacts and options, followed by in-depth country analyses for Poland and Romania, and complemented by a series of topical policy briefs.

adelphi will further host a series of outreach events, aimed at disseminating our results and taking the discussion to our target audience. Key events will include a high-level seminar for policymakers and experts across the CEE region and a policy workshop in Brussels targeting the EU policy community. To foster broad participation in the policy process, we will further host a one-day virtual training on the social dimensions of carbon pricing, targeting civil society and academia.

Publication
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Blick aus einer Straße auf ein älteres mehrstöckiges graues Gebäude in Bucharest
© Catalin Paterau/Unsplash
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Even if an EU-wide carbon price may seem some way off, it is essential to already begin building readiness. Through this project, adelphi will make a significant contribution to the discussion. Important actors across the spectrum of climate and social policy fields will be better able to understand the relevance of the carbon price, gauge its impacts, and develop strategies for its successful implementation, making sure that the most vulnerable European citizens are also able to share in its benefits.

Fields of Action
Carbon Markets & Pricing

Project-related Links

Project-related Links
European Climate Initiative (EUKI) - Socially Just Carbon Pricing Policies in C…
Publications of this project