About Us
History
To implement an emissions allowances market in
Europe and at the international level, all EU member states are under the obligation to establish
and maintain up-to-date an emissions registry for booking emissions allowances. Article 21 of the
Emissions Allowances Act stipulates that a registry must be appointed for the technical
implementation of the tasks of booking the issuance, ownership, transfer and cancellation of
emissions allowances (such registry shall also execute the functions pursuant to Article 47 Act on
Environmental Funding).
Moreover, the Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management has
outsourced the technical implementation of the booking of emissions allowances and has granted a
license for the provision of such services to ECRA as a registry service office.
Tasks of the Registry Service Office
The principal task of the Austrian Registry Service Office in the emissions allowances market consists of operating a standardized and secure registration system in the form of an electronic databank for tracking the issuance, ownership, transfer, and cancellation of emissions allowances. This database shall consist – similar to the account system of a bank – of several accounts for the concerned installation operators and allowances traders as well as for the Republic of Austria. Furthermore, it must ensure that no transfers are executed, which do not comply with the obligations of the Kyoto Protocol.
ECRA plays a key role
As emissions allowances are only available electronically and any transactions involving emissions allowances can only be executed by the registry and in this manner become legally effective, national registries play a key role in the newly created emissions allowances market.
Goals
The goal of ECRA - Emission Certificate Registry Austria GmbH – is to create such a unique company in Austria, to establish a transparent Austrian emissions allowances market according to the objectives defined, and, in conjunction with the existing national climate protection instruments, to develop a functioning emissions allowances registry service office. The ownership structure, which joins interest groups such as the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce and industry associations from the concerned sectors, is designed to guarantee a lasting interest in a long-term solution for a functioning emissions allowances registry service office.