This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'ETS reform GESTDEM 2016/42'.



Ref. Ares(2016)810029 - 16/02/2016
Open letter to the European Council, European Commission 
and European Parliament
THE EUROPEAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY 
BACKS STRONG GLOBAL CLIMATE 
CHANGE AGREEMENT AT COP 21 


Open letter to the European Council, European Commission 
and European Parliament
We, leaders of the European chemical industry, applaud the diplomatic ef orts to 
achieve an ambitious and global y-binding agreement in the Paris climate negotiations. 
Climate action is needed worldwide, to truly protect future generations from this global 
problem.
Today, the chemical industry is a pil ar of the European economy: a €551 bil ion industry 
in 2014 with a significant trade surplus of €43.5 bil ion, providing over 1 mil ion direct 
jobs and nearly 2.5 mil ion indirect jobs in Europe. 
We believe the chemical industry is also a pil ar of tomorrow’s low carbon economy. 
We represent a creative industry, whose greenhouse gas emissions have fal en by 54% 
on 1990 levels while production grew by 70%. So, we want to set the record straight 
that Cefic does, and will continue to, support ef orts by European governments and 
institutions to achieve a competitive, low-carbon economy. 
Chemistry is often all but invisible yet essential to consumers’ everyday lives: from health 
and hygiene to transport, construction and computing. Chemical innovation enables 
current and future climate change solutions, including renewable energy, energy storage 
and thousands of products to improve energy efficiency, such as in vehicles and buildings. 
In future years, chemical companies around the world will develop many more of these 
innovative and important solutions.
For now, Europe’s chemical industry is facing the reality of ever fiercer global 
competition. It must remain competitive in order to continue being innovative. 
Climate change policy leadership in Europe should not come at the expense of 
‘investment leakage’ – the ef ect of regional imbalances in climate regulations and 
associated cost dif erences that lead to the relocation of carbon emissions but not to 
an overall global reduction. For this reason we would warmly welcome a successful 
outcome in the Paris climate negotiations. Meanwhile Europe’s policymakers also need 
to make certain that measures are in place ensuring energy-intensive industries are not 
exposed to investment leakage in any scenario. European deindustrialisation is not and 
should never be seen as a viable option on the journey to decarbonisation. 
We wish success to all involved in the negotiations in Paris. 


Open letter to the European Council, European Commission 
and European Parliament
We, leaders of the European chemical industry, applaud the diplomatic ef orts to 
achieve an ambitious and global y-binding agreement in the Paris climate negotiations. 
Climate action is needed worldwide, to truly protect future generations from this global 
problem.
Today, the chemical industry is a pil ar of the European economy: a €551 bil ion industry 
in 2014 with a significant trade surplus of €43.5 bil ion, providing over 1 mil ion direct 
jobs and nearly 2.5 mil ion indirect jobs in Europe. 
We believe the chemical industry is also a pil ar of tomorrow’s low carbon economy. 
We represent a creative industry, whose greenhouse gas emissions have fal en by 54% 
on 1990 levels while production grew by 70%. So, we want to set the record straight 
that Cefic does, and will continue to, support ef orts by European governments and 
institutions to achieve a competitive, low-carbon economy. 
Chemistry is often all but invisible yet essential to consumers’ everyday lives: from health 
and hygiene to transport, construction and computing. Chemical innovation enables 
current and future climate change solutions, including renewable energy, energy storage 
and thousands of products to improve energy efficiency, such as in vehicles and buildings. 
In future years, chemical companies around the world will develop many more of these 
innovative and important solutions.
For now, Europe’s chemical industry is facing the reality of ever fiercer global 
competition. It must remain competitive in order to continue being innovative. 
CEO Signatories
Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, 
Joao Fugas, 
Giorgio Squinzi, 
President of Cefic,
CUF - Químicos Industriais SA 
MAPEI SpA
Solvay SA     
 
Mark Garrett, 
Rudolf Staudigl, 
Tony Bastock, 
Borealis AG
Wacker Chemie AG
Contract Chemicals Ltd
Fréderic Gauchet, 
Patrick Thomas, 
Kurt Bock, 
Minafin Group
Covestro AG
BASF SE 
Karl-Ludwig Kley, 
Graham van’t Hoff, Executive VP, 
Wolfgang Büchele, 
Merck KGaA
Shell Chemicals Ltd  
Linde AG
Hariolf Kottmann, 
Matthias Zachert, 
Alain de Krassny, 
Clariant  
Lanxess AG
Donau Chemie AG
Thierry Le Hénaff, 
Maria Victoria Zingoni, Executive MD, 
Klaus Engel, 
Arkema 
Repsol
Evonik Industries AG
Jari Rosendal, 
Daniele Ferrari, 
Kemira Oyj 
Versalis SpA



Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, founded in 
1972, is the voice of 29,000 large, medium and small chemical 
companies in Europe, which provide 1.2 million jobs and 
account for 17% of world chemical production.
Chemistry making a world of difference
European Chemical Industry Council - Cefic aisbl
Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4 B-1160 Brussels Belgium 
Tel. +32.2.676.72.11 
xxxx@xxxxx.xx www.cefic.org
@Cefic