Last year, Romania earned EUR 97 million from the sale of greenhouse gas emissions certificates, all the money goes to state budget, Ministry of Public Finances (MFP) announced on Friday. The amount is with over EUR 20 million lower than in 2013, when Romania has received EUR 120 million.
According to the law, 70 percent of the sum should go to Ministry of Transport and the rest to Ministry of Environment. However, these rates are variable, because the Government, by Ordinance, can distribute such amounts to other state institutions.
In 2013, almost EUR 40 million went to Ministry of National Development and Public Administration, and to Ploiesti and Bucharest mayoralties to purchase minibuses or for the construction of bicycle lanes.
The EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is a cornerstone of the European Union’s policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. The first – and still by far the biggest – international system for trading greenhouse gas emission allowances, the EU ETS covers more than 11,000 power stations and industrial plants in 31 countries, as well as airlines.
In 2020, emissions from sectors covered by the EU ETS will be 21 percent lower than in 2005. By 2030, the Commission proposes, they would be 43 percent lower. Brussels authorities allocated Romania for free 268 million certificates for 2013-2019 period, 400 domestic companies receiving this grant.