The European Union’s plans to reform its broken carbon market have been thrown into turmoil after the British lead MEP on the bill to revise the Emissions Trading System resigned after the UK voted to leave the bloc.
Ian Duncan, the only Conservative MEP for Scotland and who won his seat in the 2014 European Parliament elections and will continue as a MEP, wrote to Giovani La Via, the Chairman of the Environmental Committee.
“I believe it would be sensible for the dossier to be taken forward by a member who can steer the important reforms to their conclusion,” he said.
“It is with quite some regret that I take this step. I believe passionately in the need to advocate climate change and I also believe that the Emissions Trading system, when working well, can make a real difference, reducing carbon emissions and ushering in a new era of low-carbon industries in Europe.
I will continue to take an active role in all discussions as a member of the ENVI Committee until such time as I depart the European Parliament.“
It remains to be seen if other British MEPs will follow Duncan’s lead. His resignation was greeted with regret by many in Brussels, with his name even trending on Belgian social media.
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