Päästöoikeuskauppa

Päästöoikeuskauppa, often referred to as Emissions Trading System (ETS) in English, is a market-based approach used to control pollution. It operates on the principle of "cap and trade." A government or regulatory body sets a limit, or cap, on the total amount of certain pollutants, such as greenhouse gases, that can be emitted by specific industries.

Within this cap, companies are issued or can purchase emission allowances, essentially permits to emit a certain quantity of the pollutant. If a company can reduce its emissions below its allocated allowances, it can sell its surplus allowances to other companies that have exceeded their limits. This creates a financial incentive for companies to invest in cleaner technologies and reduce their emissions efficiently.

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is one of the largest and most prominent examples of this system. It covers emissions from power stations, industrial plants, and aviation within the European Union. The price of emission allowances fluctuates based on supply and demand, reflecting the market's assessment of the cost of reducing emissions. The goal is to achieve environmental targets at a lower overall cost to the economy compared to traditional command-and-control regulations.