Join the Conference “Is ETS2 Bad for the Economy and Citizens?” in Brussels

Across Europe, calls to slow down or weaken climate policies are gaining momentum. At the same time, evidence demonstrates that these policies are good for the economy and for the citizens. As ETS2 (the new emission trading system for buildings and road transport) and the use of its revenues move closer to implementation, the challenge is no longer whether Europe can afford climate action, but to ensure that the transition will be economically beneficial, socially fair, and politically viable.

What are the economic and social advantages of ETS2 and related measures?

Join policymakers, civil society organisations, researchers, and practitioners from across Central and Eastern Europe and beyond to explore the economic and social case for climate action.

Drawing on two years of monitoring across six Central and Eastern European countries, the conference will combine evidence from the ClimateFair Monitor project with a forward-looking discussion on the future of carbon pricing and complementary measures tomake the transition both fair and effective.

Programme

10:00–11:00 Registration, Coffee & Opening

11:00–12:30 The Social and Economic Costs of Climate Action

Keynote speech: Professor Sigrid Stagl (Vienna University) 

Speakers: James Collis (Citizens’ Climate Europe), Līga Kurevska (Ministry of Climate and Energy of Latvia), Lena Schilling (European Parliament), Vicky Pollard (European Commission)

12:30–13:30 Lunch (provided at the venue)

13:30–15:00 ETS2 challenges and best practices

Keynote speech: Marco Gonzales Alvarez (EU Commission) 

Speakers: Aja Ropret Homar (Slovenian NSCP-coordinator), Krzysztof Bolesta (Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment, Poland), Ellen de Vocht (European Energy Exchange), Annalisa Corrado (Member of the European Parliament)

15:15–16:30 Beyond carbon pricing in transport & heating (ETS2)

Keynote speech: Tzvetelina Kuzmanova (Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership)

Speakers: Federico Terrini (Transport & Environment), Orsolya Keményffy (Clean Air Action Group)

📅 12 October 2026
📍 Brussels, Belgium & Online
🏢 European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
Rue des Deux Églises 14–16

Register here: registration form

Photo: Kane Reinholdtsen/Unsplash