EU to add carbon certificates to gasoline, diesel and heating bills from 2028
From 2028 the EU’s ETS 2 scheme will require households to pay for carbon certificates when buying fuel or heating, raising prices modestly.
During the September session of the European Parliament, lawmakers adopted ETS 2, a new carbon-pricing mechanism that will apply to gasoline, diesel and residential heating from 2028. Around 10,000 large emitters have already bought certificates since 2015, and under the new rules fuel sellers will need to purchase certificates for the CO₂ released by each litre of fuel sold. The price of a certificate is capped at 45 euros per tonne, and if it rises above that level the market will be flooded with additional certificates to curb price spikes.
The European Commission will publish a detailed impact study by October 2027, and the system will be delayed if the analysis shows uncontrolled price growth. Preliminary calculations indicate households might pay roughly 10 euros more each month, far below the “hundreds of euros” feared by some critics. Revenues from the certificates will be allocated to member states for building insulation, renewable projects and support for vulnerable groups.
Why it matters
The policy will increase fuel and heating costs for EU consumers while funding climate-friendly upgrades.
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