CATF Comments on a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) supports the European Commission's proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as a tool to prevent carbon leakage and encourage global climate action. CATF argues that a CBAM must replace the free allocation of certificates under the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) and be paired with innovation policies for advanced decarbonization technologies. The organization specifically warns against including methane in the ETS due to the complexities and potential counter-intuitive effects of Global Warming Potential (GWP) time horizons. CATF recommends that the CBAM apply to all imported energy based on verifiable greenhouse gas intensity, exempt Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, and reinvest all revenues into climate innovation both within the EU and in developing countries.

• A CBAM should be used to replace the current system of free allocation of certificates under the European Emissions Trading System (ETS), as the free allocations have resulted in a negligible impact on industrial decarbonization.
• CATF strongly advises against including methane in the ETS because using a high Global Warming Potential (GWP), such as the 20-year GWP, could lead to polluters prioritizing low-cost methane reductions over necessary long-term CO2 reductions and potentially delay the total elimination of methane pollution.
• The CBAM should apply to all imported energy and rely on a robust, transparent system for verifying the greenhouse gas intensity of production and delivery, including both direct and indirect emissions.
• To achieve actual emissions reductions, the CBAM must be supported by climate-forward innovation policies and incentives for advanced technologies such as carbon capture, hydrogen, and advanced energy efficiency.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2020). CATF Comments on a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21092650/CATF_Comments_CBAM.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. CATF Comments on a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. 2020. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21092650/CATF_Comments_CBAM.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=CATF Comments on a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism |date=28 October 2020 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21092650/CATF_Comments_CBAM.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{cleanairtaskforce2020catf, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{CATF Comments on a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2020}, month = oct, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/21092650/CATF_Comments_CBAM.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }