Auswirkungen des Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

Abstract

With the European Green Deal, the European Union (EU) is pursuing the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Building on the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which has been in force since 2005 and was reformed as part of the “Fit for 55” package, supplementary measures have been introduced. These include, in particular, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which has been tested in a transitional phase since October 2023 and will transition to the definitive regime in 2026. The aim is to prevent carbon leakage, strengthen climate protection as well as the EU ETS. While the overall economic effects of CBAM are already being investigated, there is little research to date about the specific impact on companies and their supply chains. This research gap forms the starting point for this thesis. The thesis begins with an outline of the climate policy context and an explanation of the functioning of the CBAM.This includes the legal structure, obligations for importers, and current developments such as the EU's omnibus packages, which aim to simplify the regulation. The empirical study was conducted through expert interviews with management consultants and representatives of importing companies from Austria, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The evaluation was carried out using Mayring's qualitative content analysis. Analysis of the interviews shows that CBAM is recognized as a necessary and legitimate instrument for climate protection but poses significant implementation challenges for companies. Particularly challenging are the availability and quality of emissions data, communication with suppliers, and and the comprehension of the regulatory framework. Companies are often confronted with insufficient or difficultto-access data, as emission values in upstream supply chains are often not systematically recorded, provided according to uniform standards, or supplied by suppliers. The adjustments to procurement strategies are still in the early stages during the transitional phase. Although companies are already incorporating CBAM into their procurement decisions, no comprehensive shifts in supply chains are to be expected at the current stage of implementation.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Valentin Schmidt (Supervisor)