UN PREZZO MINIMO PER LE EMISSIONI DI CO2: OBIETTIVI E PROSPETTIVE DI UNA INIZIATIVA DEI CITTADINI EUROPEI

Abstract

The European Commission has recently admitted a European Citizens Initiative (ECI) on carbon pricing to the collection of signatures. The initiative aims at introducing a minimum price on climate-altering emissions, specifically on CO₂. The objective of the measure consists of discouraging the consumption of fossil fuels and facilitating the technological transition toward renewable energy sources and more effective abatement strategies. The proposal draws on the latest findings of the international literature on ‘carbon pricing’ and promotes a ‘carbon border adjustment’ for any goods imported in the European Union. This article examines the rationale and objectives of the ECI from the technical-economic viewpoint and discusses the perspectives and limitations of its possible implementation on the European Union scale.