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Sandbag
@sandbag-eu.bsky.social
We conduct data-driven and evidence-based advocacy to improve EU climate policy.
The CBAM Simulator shows:

•CBAM fees, revenue gains from higher EU prices, and net costs
• Costs as % of exports
• Country-level impacts
• Sector-level results
• Product types like flat vs long steel

This short video shows the tool in action.

👉 Explore the tool : sandbag.be/cbam-simulat...
November 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
📢 Will EU ETS revenues drive decarbonisation or subsidise the status quo?

Sandbag+ 14 NGOs urge the European Commission to reform — not expand — the Indirect Cost Compensation (ICC) scheme under ETS State Aid Guidelines.

#EUETS #ClimatePolicy

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November 13, 2025 at 12:53 PM
♻️ Sandbag’s feedback on the Circular Economy Act: Supporting circularity in the EU steel sector

The proposed Act is a key opportunity to strengthen EU climate and industrial policy by improving the conditions for high-quality scrap use in steelmaking.

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November 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM
🇩🇪⚡️ Germany plans 12.5 GW of new gas-fired power plants, labelled "hydrogen-ready" — but for now, they’ll run on fossil gas in a grid that remains heavily carbon-based.

❗This could jeopadise decarbonisation unless electrification is paired with renewables.

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October 31, 2025 at 1:13 PM
📘 New report: “Economic and Political Incentives for Climate Action: Creating a Business Case for the Private Sector

From CAPAfrica & KAS

Sandbag is proud to have contributed a chapter on how the 🇪🇺 #CBAM affects African exports and how it could support climate-smart growth

🔍 Key insights:

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October 30, 2025 at 3:27 PM
🇮🇳💶 Sandbag’s CBAM Simulator puts India in focus—and is the first tool to model how coverage, carbon pricing & sector responses shape EU border costs.

Built on transparent data & simple assumptions.

Try the Simulator yourself👉 sandbag.be/cbam-simulat...

#CBAM #EUETS
October 24, 2025 at 11:18 AM
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⚠️ Doubling down on fossil-based compensation? Time to rethink ICC

The EU plans to double the number of sectors eligible for Indirect Carbon Cost (ICC) compensation under the ETS.

But expansion without reform risks locking in fossil-heavy subsidies.

#EUETS #ClimatePolicy
October 22, 2025 at 9:09 AM
📊 New CBAM Simulator: Explore Trade Impacts & Policy Responses

Sandbag is pleased to release today a new CBAM Simulator to support stakeholders — especially from non-EU countries — in analysing the real-world potential implications of the CBAM.

👇
sandbag.be/cbam-simulat...

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CBAM Simulator – Sandbag
Model the global trade impacts of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) using Sandbag’s interactive simulator and 2023 trade data.
sandbag.be
October 16, 2025 at 12:43 PM
🌍 Africa and the EU: a two-way street under the CBAM

The EU’s CBAM is often mistaken for a trade tool — but it’s a climate policy: it aims to replace free emissions permits, thereby driving emission reductions in the EU, although effects are expected outside the EU too.

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October 15, 2025 at 7:58 PM
📰 Sandbag’s CBAM analysis on US trade is making headlines.

From the Financial Times to Euractiv Pro, BusinessGreen, Contexte, edie, Trade Finance Global and Carbon Pulse — top outlets are sharing our findings.

👉 Read the research note: sandbag.be/2025/09/24/c...

#CBAM #EU #US #ClimatePolicy
October 13, 2025 at 9:35 AM
⚡ Electrification does not always mean decarbonisation.

In Sandbag’s response to the EU Electricity Action Plan, we warn that rising electricity demand—if not matched by much more clean power than it requires—can cannibalise decarbonisation in the power sector.

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October 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
🇵🇹 Portugal’s state aid bill will exceed 25% of ETS revenues — by far.

The EU just approved a €100m boost to Portugal’s compensation for ETS costs to electricity users. But this support is fiscally unsustainable.

With France & Portugal above the 25% limit, which country is next?

#EUETS
October 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Sandbag’s response to the CBAM Calls for Evidence tackles risks of loopholes and uneven treatment. The call covered:

• Article 7 – Emissions reporting
• Article 31 – Adjustment for free allocation
• Article 9 – Carbon price paid abroad

👉 Read more here: sandbag.be/2025/09/30/s...
Sandbag’s Response to the CBAM Calls for Evidence
Sandbag responds to the CBAM consultations on emissions reporting, free allocation, and carbon pricing abroad with practical solutions.
sandbag.be
September 30, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Trade Finance Global highlights Sandbag’s new CBAM study:

📊 US exporters would face annual CBAM fees of around €351m (0.14% of exports to the EU) — far below the €4.3bn sometimes claimed.

👉 Report: sandbag.be/2025/09/24/c...
CBAM Impact on US Trade: Sandbag’s Analysis
Sandbag’s latest analysis models the EU CBAM’s impact on US exports. Annual fees would total €351m under current scope — just 0.14% of 2023 trade — and drop to €160m after price effects. US carbon pri...
sandbag.be
September 26, 2025 at 9:18 AM
📦 CBAM’s impact on US trade? Lower than it seems.

Sandbag finds US exporters face €351m/yr in fees — just 0.14% of EU-bound trade.

📉 But after accounting for EU price effects, net costs fall to €160m (0.07%).

🧪 Aluminium even shows a net gain.
September 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
📢 Sandbag and KAS discussed #CBAM issues with DG TAXUD, EU industry and non-EU countries:

• Whether and how the EU will address resource shuffling

• EU-US trade deal

• Challenges for third countries and EU

Full report 👉 sandbag.be/2025/08/25/t...

#EUETS
September 18, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Sandbag report covered by Les Echos.

Industry could be “deprived of €35bn” by 2034. #CBAM will charge €11.3bn, but importers and Europeans alike will “reflect part of these costs in selling prices,” reducing the net impact to €5bn.

👉 Les Echos: tinyurl.com/t9dtttvh
📘 Report: tinyurl.com/yj9s4ja2
September 12, 2025 at 6:06 PM
📰 Sandbag’s report as covered by Politico

CBAM's net costs to companies "far, far lower" than the €11.3bn charged for certificates, as CBAM will "likely push up prices" for goods such as steel and aluminium.

👉 Politico: pro.politico.eu/news/203508
📘 Report: sandbag.be/2025/08/25/t...

#CBAM
September 9, 2025 at 12:38 PM
🗞️ Coverage of our CBAM report in @financialtimes.com

FT called it a “financial windfall from Brussels’ carbon border tax”.

The cost to third countries may fall from €11.3bn to €5bn — a €7bn gap from higher EU sales.

📖Report sandbag.be/2025/08/25/t...

🔗Article www.ft.com/content/7c74...

#CBAM
The EU CBAM: A Two-Way Street to Climate Integrity? - Sandbag
This report analyses the combined impact of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the phaseout of free allocation. It explores how exporters might adapt to minimise costs — and why ca...
sandbag.be
September 5, 2025 at 7:12 PM
📊 CBAM in the Headlines

Our report “The EU CBAM: A Two-Way Street to Climate Integrity?” featured in:

FT👉 lnkd.in/e3fvffhg
Politico👉 lnkd.in/e7p2BFth
Les Échos👉 lnkd.in/ei-8XqBq
Montel News👉 lnkd.in/eyMHuY8S
Carbon Pulse👉 lnkd.in/ea7ddGrp

📑 Full report here 👉 sandbag.be/2025/08/25/t...
September 3, 2025 at 1:52 PM
🌍 The EU CBAM: A two-way street to climate integrity?

Our new report supported with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung looks at how 20 major trade partners may be affected — and how they’re likely to respond.

📉 Spoiler: The costs are lower than many expect.
August 25, 2025 at 8:35 AM
📢 The EU is reviewing State aid for Indirect Carbon Costs (ICC) under the ETS.

Sandbag says: don’t extend the scheme before fixing it. Here’s why 👇
August 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Strengthening the CBAM by default

The EU is reviewing the CBAM to:

• Cover downstream products
• Tackle circumvention
• Improve electricity emissions rules

Sandbag's supports proposals to improve, simplify and close loopholes and reduce costs in the CBAM.

👇 See how the CBAM can be improved
August 6, 2025 at 11:03 AM
📣 Why the CBAM must include indirect emissions

The EU is considering whether the CBAM should cover emissions from electricity used in the production of imported goods.

Sandbag’s new briefing shows why this is necessary — and how to make it work. 👇
August 1, 2025 at 12:51 PM
The EU Innovation Fund is missing its potential.

Sandbag responded to the EU consultation with 4 key changes to ensure smarter funding. 👇
July 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM