EU-ETS allowance prices in the European Union 2023-2025

The price of emissions allowances (EUA) traded on the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) exceed 100 euros per metric ton of CO₂ for the first time in February 2023. Although average annual EUA prices have increased significantly since the 2018 reform of the EU-ETS, they fell ** percent year-on-year in 2023 to ** euros. 

What is the EU-ETS?

The EU-ETS became the world’s first carbon market in 2005. The scheme was introduced as a way of limiting GHG emissions from polluting installations by putting a price on carbon, thus incentivizing entities to reduce their emissions. A fixed number of emissions allowances are put on the market each year, which can be traded between companies. The number of available allowances is reduced each year. The EU-ETS is now in its fourth phase (2021 to 2030).

Carbon price comparisons

The EU ETS has one of the highest average annual carbon prices worldwide, with EUAs averaging ** U.S. dollars as of April 2024. In comparison, prices for UK ETS caron credits averaged 45 U.S. dollars during same period, while those under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in the United States averaged just ** U.S. dollars.