A coalition of more than 50 companies and organisations has urged EU member states to meet the 2028 launch date for the new emissions trading system for fuels used in buildings and road transport (ETS2). This is set out in a letter dated 6 October 2026 addressed to the climate representatives of the 27 Permanent Representations to the European Union. Signatories include the Spanish companies Iberdrola and Wallbox as well as Danfoss, Ørsted, Statkraft, Velux, the European consumer organisation BEUC and the Spanish environmental organisation ECODES.
The signatories are urging the EU not to postpone the already agreed introduction of ETS2 again. They cite the need for investment certainty and the expectation that revenues from the system can be used early on to cushion its social impact and fund decarbonisation measures. In their view, changes to the rules before the planned 2029 review would undermine the confidence of stakeholders working to the existing timetable.
ETS2 extends the European carbon market to fuels used in buildings and road transport. According to the EU, it is due to become operational in 2028; details of its design will be determined as it is implemented in national law. The European Commission and the Council of the European Union have stressed in recent communications that the timetable should be maintained. A review of the rules is scheduled for 2029.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of debates in several member states about social compensation mechanisms and the burden on households and certain industries. Some governments have floated additional flexibility in recent months. The letter’s authors argue, by contrast, that reliable framework conditions are essential for investment, including in charging infrastructure and heat pumps.
No new decisions by member states on the next steps had been made by the time of publication. Institutionally, the onus remains on governments to transpose the requirements into national law and establish the necessary administrative arrangements. The alliance of energy companies, industry and civil society aims to build political pressure for a stable timetable ahead of the forthcoming implementation steps.
The role of Spanish stakeholders is clear: Iberdrola and Wallbox are among the most prominent signatories from Spain. Both have long advocated clear investment signals for electricity grids, electric mobility and building efficiency, which would be supported by a predictable ETS2 pathway.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).