Full definition
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, EU Regulation 2023/956. Carbon pricing at borders on carbon-intensive imports: cement, iron, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen. Transitional reporting phase since 1 October 2023, operational phase (actual payment) since 1 January 2026, progressively replacing free EU ETS allowances. Importers must buy CBAM certificates at the ETS market price. Do not confuse it with EU ETS (emissions trading system, in place since 2005, covering European emitters) or with TGAP (France’s general tax on polluting activities).
Also known as
- MACF
- Mécanisme d'ajustement carbone aux frontières
- Taxe carbone aux frontières