Ecology

While most analysis of Brazil's upcoming 4 October election focuses on whether Lula or Flávio Bolsonaro will lead the country, for the EU's climate agenda, however, this is only half the question. Congress is already willing to override the president on environmental law, and is likely to move further to the right. This could undermine the green promises of the EU-Mercosur agreement, regardless of who wins. Brussels should watch the National Congress, especially the Senate, as closely as the presidency.

The European Commission has revealed its revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), the cornerstone of European climate policy. Since 2005, this cap and trade system has capped greenhouse gas emissions across covered sectors while letting companies trade allowances. But with the Linear Reduction Factor, free allocation and price volatility all up for debate, and a possible extension to private jets and waste incineration on the table, how much climate ambition will survive the rewrite? We put three questions to MEP Michael Bloss (Greens/EFA), shadow rapporteur for the ETS reform, on where the real red lines should be drawn.