Petition addressed to: Policymakers at the European Parliament, European Commission, and EU member state governments
Every day, households across Europe experience the impact of volatile fuel and energy prices. Dependence on fossil fuels leaves people in a vulnerable position, while oil and gas companies are making huge profits (1).
To kickstart our move away from this dysfunctional system, a new EU scheme will generate billions of euros to support households in the transition to cleaner energy. This policy, known as Emissions Trading System 2 (ETS2), will put a price on emissions from road transport and buildings (2).
However, the launch of ETS2 has been delayed by one year (3), and many governments have failed to submit their plans for using the Social Climate Fund on time, meaning that significant sums intended for citizens have been held back (4).
What needs to be done:
Your Voice Matters
Over the past 20 years, putting a price on pollution has helped cut EU carbon emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The first Emissions Trading System (ETS1) covers heavy industry, energy, aviation, and shipping. A second system, ETS2, addressing building and road transport emissions, is being delayed, with its start planned for only 2028.
Worryingly, many parliamentarians and governments have made clear their intention to further delay or completely cancel this new system (5 & 6).
Putting a price on pollution benefits both people and the planet, generating funds to make clean and energy-efficient solutions more accessible, from heat pumps, home renovations, to improving our public transport systems (7).
Crucially, a Social Climate Fund (8), introduced alongside ETS2, is designed to support households that need the most support, and increasing its size would improve its reach.
Carbon pricing allows us to break our dependency on expensive fossil fuels and strengthen the EU’s energy security by putting power back in our hands. This transition not only protects us from volatile prices and climate change but also leads to better air quality and healthier communities.
We call on governments and EU policymakers to stop delaying and diluting ETS2. Stop protecting fossil fuel interests and boost the social ambition of the system.
A just climate transition cannot wait!
References:
Petition started:
05/15/2026
Collection ends:
12/31/2026
Region:
European Union
Topic:
Environment
Not yet a PRO argument.
Price of fuel in most EU countries if not all is more than 50 sometimes up to 70% in different taxes. Paying unreasonable price for fuel to finance not viable solutions and expensive EVs and "green" energy like wind turbine. Instead invest in the Nuclear energy for industry and hydrogen and natural gas as fuel for the cars and trucks
I work in Poland on energy storage, virtual power plants and energy communities. I sign because delaying or watering down ETS2 is not social protection - it is protection of fossil-fuel rents.
Polish households already pay the cost of volatile gas and oil. Oil and gas majors keep the profits. ETS2 prices pollution in buildings and road transport and can generate tens of billions of euros for Poland: the Social Climate Fund allocation (+\~€11.4 bn) plus national auction revenues. Every year of delay holds that money back from heat pumps, deep renovation, storage, local grids, public transport and energy communities that cut bills for good.
A just transition is not “no carbon price”. A just transition is: a real carbon price + 100% of revenues recycled into lasting solutions for people who heat with coal and drive because they have no alternative. Cash handouts without infrastructure lock in poverty. Infrastructure without social targeting hits the poorest first.
Poland is one of the five countries that dominate ETS2 emissions. If we dilute the instrument here, the EU misses 2040 and Polish towns stay locked into smog, energy poverty and imported fuels.
I feel responsible because I build the tools that make the alternative real: storage, flexibility, community energy. Price the pollution. Do not delay ETS2. Expand the Social Climate Fund. Force governments to submit and execute strong Social Climate Plans that fund real assets, not slogans.
Leave fossil fuels behind - not people.
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| Country | number | quorum (?) |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 1,640 | 9.94% |
| Deutschland | 1,152 | 1.55% |
| Nederland | 460 | 2.36% |
| Österreich | 330 | 2.32% |
Because I read the UN climate report entitled “Limiting Overshoot”, and it was harrowing to read what’s coming