Emission allowance price (EUA)
Emissions allowance trading in the European Union is a market-based mechanism designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Companies and other regulated entities covered by the system must hold sufficient allowances to cover their emissions and may buy or sell these allowances on the market.
The price of an EU emission allowance is determined through exchange trading. When referring to the current allowance price, market participants usually mean the price of the nearest December futures contract. For example, in June 2023, this would have been the December 2023 contract, known as Dec23.
The nearest December contract is generally the most liquid and therefore provides the best indication of the current market price of EU emission allowances. The chart below shows the price of this contract.
In 2026, the average price of the reference EU allowance contract is 77.33 EUR/t (1,872 CZK/t).
Previous price: 79.19 EUR/t
0.31 EUR/t
-0.28 EUR/t
8.95 EUR/t
Emission allowance price (EUA) [EUR/t]
Recent price development
Emission allowance price (EUA) (Dec26)
17.07.2026
Emission allowance price (EUA) (Dec26)
16.07.2026
Emission allowance price (EUA) (Dec26)
15.07.2026
Emission allowance price (EUA) (Dec26)
14.07.2026
Emission allowance price (EUA) (Dec26)
13.07.2026
Emission allowance price (EUA) (Dec26)
10.07.2026
Emission allowance price (EUA) (Dec26)
09.07.2026
Emission allowance price (EUA) (Dec26)
08.07.2026
Need to track emission allowance prices?
Get an overview of EUA price developments and related news every business day at 8:00 straight to your e-mail. Free trial.
Questions and answers
What is the current emission allowance price?
The current emission allowance price is 79.5 EUR/t (1,924 CZK/t) (18. 7. 2026). This is the contract designated Dec26 (i.e. the contract delivered in the nearest December), which tends to be the most liquid and whose value therefore best reflects the current emission allowance price.
How is the emission allowance price set and where can you buy them?
The emission allowance price is set by trading on the exchange. The most important exchanges for trading emission allowances are the European Energy Exchange (EEX) based in Leipzig and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in London. Allowances can be bought on these exchanges or through brokers.
Who has to buy emission allowances?
Emission allowances are paid by operators of larger installations in energy-intensive sectors that are part of the EU Emissions Trading System, known as the EU ETS. These are mainly power and heating plants with a thermal input above 20 MW, oil refineries, ironworks, steelworks and cement plants.
Where does the money from emission allowances go?
Revenue from emission allowance auctions goes mainly to the budgets of EU member states. From 2024 this share must be used only for climate-related purposes. Since 2021, part of the auction revenue has also been earmarked to finance the Modernisation and Innovation Funds.