Campaigners slam reduced ETS transparency

Campaign groups have criticised the European Commission for reducing transparency in the EU emissions trading system (ETS).

The ETS data for 2013 released by the Commission does not show how many international offset credits were used by companies to cover their emissions, unlike in previous years.

It has also stopped publishing information on what types of offsets companies use.

Offset credits, known as CERs and ERUs, are available at about 2-3% of the price of EU allowances, making them an easy means by which companies can slash their compliance costs. Around 7% of ETS emissions in 2013 were covered using offsets.