The workshop on ETS Benchmark: The European Approach of Defining Benchmarks for the Industrial Sectors Covered by the EU ETS took place in Beijing on 15-16 January 2020. This workshop provided an opportunity for EU and Chinese experts to have an extensive exchange of views, discuss on the European approach and practice of benchmarks of different industrial sectors. 

Mr. Heiko Kunst, representative from Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), European Commission, gave a comprehensive introduction of the European approach of defining benchmarks. Based on the common interests of DG CLIMA and Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the workshop provided the platform of EU and CN experts to present their views on data collection and stakeholder involvement for Phase 3 and Phase 4, benchmarks of the steel, chemical and other industries. To this end, further work scope of Joint Research 3 workgroup had been discussed and agreed.

A kick-off meeting of EU-China ETS joint research workgroup 3: Industrial Benchmarks is followed shortly on 16 January 2020. Approximately 15 Chinese and European experts from the research institutes, think tanks and industries was engaged.The approach and timeline of the research work was agreed at the meeting: The detailed work plan will clarify the working timeline and the division of this research work between Chinese and European experts. Two sub-group panels was set up to discuss the key issues and challenges in the ETS benchmark of chemical industry and Iron & Steel Sector.

Affected by COVID-19, the Project Team organised a series of phased meeting or discussion via video conference from March to July 2020, instead of face-face meeting. The output of this research will be reviewed by DG CLIMA and the EUD before being submitted to Climate Change Department of the MEE as a reference for policymaking.