Webinar: The EU ETS at a Crossroads: The Next Frontier of EU Climate Policy – May 26, 2026

As the cornerstone of European climate policy, the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is currently under a mandatory review. A legislative update is expected by July 2026 to meet ambitious 2040 greenhouse gas reduction targets.

However, this regulatory shift coincides with an unprecedented global energy shock triggered by the conflict in Iran. Facing soaring energy costs and the resulting strain on industrial competitiveness, European policymakers must balance the integrity of carbon pricing with the need to preserve the continent’s economic competitiveness.

Join the National Tax Association for an expert-led virtual discussion to examine the prospects of the EU ETS. The event will feature a diverse range of insights, bridging the gap between regulatory requirements, business operations, market dynamics, and policy objectives.

Speakers:

Francesco Maria Graziani, Climate and Energy Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to the United States
Patrick McCown, Policy Manager, Energy and Climate, Representative of German Industry and Trade
Matt Bolden, Associate Director, Policy and Strategic Engagement at the University of Chicago’s Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth

Moderator:
Sara Schonhardt, International Climate Reporter, Politico 

Francesco Maria joined the EU Delegation in Washington DC in November 2023 as the Counsellor for Energy and Climate. Prior to his current posting in the U.S., he was Policy Assistant to the Director General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy in Brussels. He also held the position of Legal Officer for Renewables and Energy System Integration Policy at the European Commission.  

Matt Bolden is the Associate Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement at the University of Chicago’s Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth. Prior to this, he served as a Senior Climate Policy Advisor for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) where he covered market-based climate policies for the committee and its Ranking Member, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

Before that, he was the Chief of Staff and Director of Policy and Government Relations at the Climate Leadership Council where he worked with a coalition of environmental organizations and companies to build bipartisan support for climate action. He started his career as a financial analyst at SURF Capital, where he underwrote investments in green tech, real estate, and community development projects.

Matt earned a BA in Environmental Studies with a minor in Physical Sciences from Yale-NUS College: an international liberal arts college established through a partnership between Yale University and the National University of Singapore.

Patrick McCown is a Policy Manager for energy and climate policy at RGIT, the liaison office of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) in Washington, DC.

Previously, he gained experience in consulting for German companies at the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US in Atlanta, as well as in labor market research at the IWAK in Frankfurt (Main) and in local economic policy at the Osnabrück Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

He received his master’s degree in Political Science from Goethe University Frankfurt and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Freiburg, with a term abroad at University College London. Having parents from both countries, Patrick feels at home at the intersection of US and German culture.

Moderator

Sara covers climate and energy developments globally, with a focus on international climate negotiations, finance and how countries are approaching the transition to cleaner economies.

Prior to joining E&E News, Sara worked as a reporter for more than a decade across much of Southeast Asia for The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor and Voice of America. She was a staff reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Indonesia until 2017.

Sara has a degree in journalism from Ohio University and a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University.

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