Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

2022 DEC 15

Preliminary   > Environment and Ecology   >   Miscellaneous   >   External sector

Why in news?

  • The BASIC group, comprising India, China, Brazil and South Africa, issued a joined statement against Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, as it could result in market distortion and aggravate the trust deficit amongst Parties.

About Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):

  • Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a proposed carbon tariff on carbon intensive products, such as cement and some electricity, imported by the European Union.
  • Currently being legislated as part of the European Green Deal it is likely to take effect in 2026 with reporting starting in 2023.

Significance:

  • It is a set of trade policy tools that aim to prevent carbon-intensive economic activity from moving out of jurisdictions with relatively stringent climate policies and into those with relatively less stringent policies.
  • Border adjustments have the potential to increase the environmental effectiveness of climate policies, by averting shifts in economic activity that could lead to higher total greenhouse emissions — a phenomenon known as “carbon leakage.” They are also seen as a way of protecting industrial competitiveness by reducing the incentive for businesses to move production abroad.
  • Border adjustments would typically apply fees on imported goods based on the greenhouse gas emissions generated during their production.
  • Border adjustments can also include rebates or exemptions from domestic policies for producers that export their goods.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), recently seen in news, is associated with:

(a) BRICS

(b) European Union

(c) ASEAN

(d) SCO

                        B

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