Signal Carbon pricing spreads to 73 countries and the EU carbon border mechanism takes effect

Summary

The plan quantifies the tightening of climate regulation with the spread of carbon pricing. Countries using emissions trading or carbon pricing grew from about 20 in the 2010s to 73 in 2025. It adds that the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism entered full operation in January 2026. The plan also labels 2023 to 2025 as the three hottest years on record in its temperature chart. Together these markers show that climate policy is shifting from voluntary pledges toward binding costs that affect trade and industry.