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The article discusses Europe's Emissions Trading System (ETS) cap-and-trade scheme as of 2013, with information on the programme's aim of reducing carbon emissions in the European Union (EU). Topics include the surplus of carbon permits due to low levels of demand, attempts of the European Commission to postpone introduction of carbon allowances until demand increases, and the implications of ETS implementation issues for other governments with similar programmes.

The article focuses on carbon markets in Europe. In July 2007, the first emissions exchanges in Australia and Canada opened, in anticipation of mandatory carbon-trading schemes in both countries. The U.S. has a stable voluntary carbon market, and will be adding a mandatory one for utilities in various states. Evidence from the most sophisticated emissions trading program, the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme, implies that companies are struggling to make the most of carbon markets.

The author discusses British and European governments' environmental policies. The author says environmental legislation proposed by the European Union and the British government shows they have learned from some mistakes but not others. Great Britain has long-term initiatives to cut carbon emissions. The author talks about how "green energy" is connected to government subsidies.

The article discusses carbon-emissions trading. Market forces and the environment are not always in harmony, but a new venture, announced on September 7th, may help lessen the discord. The European Climate Exchange (ECX), formed in an agreement between the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and London's International Petroleum Exchange (IPE), will offer European companies a place to trade emissions credits for greenhouse gases. Regulation has spurred the creation of the ECX. Next January, the European Union will put into effect new rules designed to curb carbon-dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming. Companies in the EU's 25 member states will be allowed to emit a certain amount. If they go over, they can buy credits from companies that have stayed within their limits. The ECX plans to offer trading in emissions-credit futures by the end of this year, with cash products to follow soon afterwards. In anticipation of this scheme, forward trading has already begun, though not on the ECX. Nine European brokerage houses already facilitate over-the-counter trades. Evolution Markets, one such firm, estimates that the volume traded has risen from 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in January to 600,000 in July. The American market has not had Europe's regulatory shove: the United States, unlike Europe, did not sign the Kyoto agreement on climate change and is not forcing companies to limit emissions.

The article focuses on issues concerning environmental rules in Europe. Many European companies, especially those at the grubbier ends of manufacturing, complain about increasingly strict environmental controls. But one firm's expensive obligation is another's chance for profit. Ecotec, a British consultancy, reckons that there are nearly 16,000 environmental firms in Europe. Many are small: 55% have annual sales of less than $2.5m. But Europe also attracts bigger players. Since 1989 the European subsidiary of America's Waste Management has almost quadrupled its annual turnover, to over $1.2 billion.

In this editorial the prime minister of Spain discusses the political and economic importance of European integration. The integration of European efforts to reform economic policies, improve environmental conditions, and promote transparency in economic administration are three priorities described. The importance of supporting initiatives to improve economic and social integration between countries on the Mediterranean Sea is also noted.

This article reports on the issue of climate change within the politics and policies of the European Union. At a recent summit European leaders agreed to some ambitious targets. By 2020, the 27 EU countries will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% below the 1990 level. Unfortunately, there were very few concrete proposals as to how to meet those goals.

The article discusses the environmental movement around the world. In America, greens have suffered a string of defeats on high-profile issues. Europe's green groups, while politically stronger, are also starting to lose their way intellectually. A sensible green analysis of nuclear power would weigh its (very high) economic costs and (fairly low) safety risks against the important benefit of generating electricity with no greenhouse-gas emissions. The coming into force of the United Nations's Kyoto protocol on climate change might seem a victory for Europe's greens, but it actually masks a larger failure. The most promising aspect of the treaty--its innovative use of market-based instruments such as carbon-emissions trading--was resisted tooth and nail by Europe's greens. If environmental groups continue to reject pragmatic solutions and instead drift toward Utopian visions of the future, they will lose the battle of ideas. Rachel Carson, the crusading journalist who inspired greens in the 1950s and 1960s, is joining hands with Adam Smith, the hero of free-marketeers.

It is no surprise that the European Commission wants to tighten the regulation of European chemicals to promote cleaner living. But its current proposal is ambitious even by the European Union's (EU) own lofty environmental rhetoric, dwarfing anything dreamt up by the bossy bureaucrats of America's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The chemicals in question are not only the stuff of big, smelly factories, but those used in making everything from cosmetics to car parts. The aim is to subject all chemicals in use before 1981--and so not covered by current rules--to a tough safety-testing regime. Chemicals firms say they support the goal of REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) to update laws that have failed to rid Europe of the nastiest substances. REACH is largely the brainchild of Margot Wallstrom, the environment commissioner, who comes from Sweden, a country that has been leading the fight against chemicals.

Examines the proposals to be put forth later this month by Italian Environment Minister Giorgio Ruffolo and European Community Environment Commissioner Carlo Ripa di Meana at an informal meeting of the EC, the topic of which will be economic incentives for environmental protection. Likely support and dissent.