The German government will allow operators of coal power stations which had their units shut down after a climate change package to keep their existing carbon emissions certificates without having to buy new ones for their other carbon-emitting activities.
The new arrangement means the government will earn less from the emission trading schemes.
The certificates are issued in accordance with a trading scheme designed to ensure greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) emitters pay for the environmental impact of their activities.
Under the climate change law scheduled to be approved by the cabinet on December 18, all coal power stations would have to be closed by 2038.
