Those who are negotiating additional quotas

Free up to a certain threshold, pay beyond CO2 quotas do not represent a major constraint for the thousand of French industrial sites are submitted (steel, cement, glass, electricity, etc.): they are even among the better off in Europe, judging the 2008 synthesis, still undisclosed, the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, in charge of identifying the actual carbon consumption of each company.

While most countries consume more CO2 level provided by the European Commission (United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, etc.), the France has one of the most important EU surpluses. With 5.9 million tonnes not used (and therefore likely to be sold), it lies in the trio of head to the side of the Romania and the Slovakia. Although the 2009 figures are not available, the crisis and the slowdown in production rates certainly reinforced the trend. For the time being, it is impossible to know the gains and losses of each undertaking, the European Union is committed to respect confidentiality of five-year period. This does not mean that quotas are without effect on businesses: failure to pay to pollute, they are obliged to invest, sometimes heavily, to reduce their emissions before 2013, date in which paying quotas are more numerous. "Les echos" surveyed several companies for their practices.

Those who purchase quotas. If exceeded their quotas, companies can buy new rights to pollute from companies which do not exploit their full. Prices fluctuate with the demand (currently 13,20 EUR per tonne of CO2). But they are rare in this case: in France, refineries are only consume more CO2 level allocated (for free) by the European Union, said the Caisse des Dépôts. In 2008, they had to purchase 1.8 million tonnes on the markets, in addition to those provided free of charge. Some electricity companies are also involved, but more anecdotal way. In 2008, EDF had to buy one million tonnes of CO2 on the market. In 2009, these purchases have doubled, to 2 million tons. As of 2013, paying quotas are more numerous: the Union of chemical industries (UIC) believes that they represent 250 million euros per year for companies in the sector.

Those who are negotiating additional quotas. In addition to conventional quotas, companies can obtain additional credits (to sell or use them) developing green projects in developing countries. This is the case, for example, GDF Suez. In 2008, the gas Group issued 50 million tonnes of CO2, which only 39 million for free. In addition to buy 5 million tons, he acquired 6 million tonnes by developing "mechanisms for clean development" (CDM), such as the fight against deforestation in the Brazil and the construction of a wind farm in the Chile. Rhodia also acquired quotas, via projects in Korea in the South and the Brazil, but for different reasons: thanks to these projects, the chemist can be sold between 11 and 13 million tonnes of CO2 per year, or between 165 and 195 million euros of annual revenues. Carbon finance has become, for the group, full: it now represents 5 of its turnover. This type of project, however, remains infrequent: in France, only 4 of carbon emissions are "financed" through CDM projects, according to the Caisse des Dépôts.

Modified behaviour. Even if it is imperfect, market contributes to modify the behaviour of firms. They must reduce their CO2 emissions by 21 by 2020, and will benefit less and less free allowances. "Value per ton of CO2 encourages companies to produce more green", said Jacques Toraille, Director of sustainable development in Michelin. Since 2005, the Group has already reduced its emissions by a fifth in her boiler rooms. The construction of two wind turbines, Scotland helped to reduce the consumption of carbon of 4,000 tonnes. Heat recovery of an incinerator in Bassens (Gironde) saves 20,000 tonnes of carbon per year. At Arkema (Chemistry), reduction of carbon emissions and the improvement of energy efficiency represent 7 of the investment. "These projects are expensive and unprofitable." "Stop saying that European quotas cost nothing to companies", explains the Director of institutional affairs, Nicolas de Warren.