Building and sustaining lead markets in Europe

Compatible with the DNA of the EU and anchored in existing European tools and regulations, lead markets are being developed to better leverage the potential of the single market. These markets can complement existing supply-side instruments by creating demand for low-carbon products—especially in scenarios where the carbon price (notably under the EU ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) alone may not generate sufficient demand in the coming years. How can companies, regulators, and consumers better use the single market to drive competitive decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors? While state aid and subsidies may be short-lived, tools such as public and private procurement can provide market visibility and create captive demand for clean products.