Development of the European Union Carbon Allowances Market

The use of market mechanisms in environmental protection was the cause of coming into being of financial markets on which emission allowances are traded. Introduction of the European Union Emissions Trading System and mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol exerted a particular influence on the development of these markets. The EU market is the biggest emission allowance market in the world in terms of trading volume and value and becomes a more and more important element of global financial markets. A situation on this market is essential for enterprises wishing to acquire carbon allowances in order to cover their greenhouse gases emissions entities investing in low-carbon technologies and entities interested in gaining profits from speculative transactions