LIFE NETS is co-financed by the EU LIFE Programme of the European Commission - Project Number: 101213540
The LIFE Net zero Emissions Trading Systems (LIFE NETS) project addresses several challenges in the governance of the EU ETS, including the lack of a centralised, user-friendly and comprehensive information source, insufficient communication strategies to facilitate social acceptance, the need for in-depth training and capacity building among operators and policymakers, and the necessity for international cooperation on carbon pricing.
Emissions Trading Systems have been considered cost-effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the EU ETS’s costs and benefits are not widely recognised by the general public due to low carbon prices and system complexity and intransparency. The introduction of EU ETS II for road transport and buildings highlights the need for better public understanding of emission trading.
The project aims to establish an EU ETS Data Tracker to monitor the functioning of the EU ETS and improve data accessibility, foster public understanding and support through communication activities and a social experiment, and build capacity by providing residential and online training for European and non-European stakeholders. It also aims to improve capacity to evaluate ETSs, promote international cooperation through policy dialogue, and strengthen the network of carbon market experts.
The expected results include enhanced public awareness and support, improved ETS data accessibility and transparency, enhanced capacity and skills through training, strengthened multistakeholder collaboration, closer international cooperation on emissions trading, and a stronger network of carbon market experts.