“Brexit will sidetrack key energy and climate reforms”

After the British vote to leave the European Union, the EU’s energy union plans are at risk of being “put on the back-burner until more pressing issues are worked out,” writes Sara Stefanini for Politico. In light of the UK’s presidency of the Council of the EU planned for the second half of 2017, many important elements might be stalled. “It’s a substantial risk to the energy union legislation, being bogged down by a presidency that’s not fully designed to be ramping things forward as quickly as possible,” said Jonathan Gaventa, director of the environmental analysis group E3G. The U.K.’s exit could also further complicate the reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), writes Stefanini. “The U.K. is a major centre for Europe’s carbon, energy and financial markets, so its involvement in European policymaking in these areas is essential,” said Dirk Forrister, president and CEO of the International Emissions Trading Association.

Read the article (behind a paywall) here.