Carbon price faces volatility
Unclear regulatory and energy outlooks cloud the EU ETS carbon market picture
The outlook for the price of CO2 in the European emission trading scheme (EU ETS) in 2020 could fairly be described as “mixed”. The market faces a variety of both bullish and bearish influences over the next twelve months that could see prices move in a fairly wide range. In 2019, EU carbon allowances (EUAs) consolidated in the mid-€20s/t after a 200pc rise the previous year (see Figure 1). The influences that drove that trebling in price—in particular, new measures to curb oversupply—are still present, but much of the speculative buying from investors that drove the year-long rally was unwound in 2019, and, at the start of the new decade, those investors are circling the market and waiting
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined






