der
Emissionspreis
💰 What Exactly is an Emissionspreis?
The German term der Emissionspreis primarily has two meanings:
- Price for Environmental Emissions: This is the most common meaning today. Here, der Emissionspreis refers to the cost incurred for emitting greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO₂). It's a central instrument of climate policy, often determined within an emissions trading system (like the EU ETS) or through a CO₂ tax (CO₂-Steuer). The goal is to make emissions more expensive, thereby creating incentives for their reduction. It's often called the CO₂-Preis or Kohlenstoffpreis (carbon price). 🌍
- Issue Price of Securities: In the financial world, der Emissionspreis (also called Ausgabepreis or Emissionskurs) refers to the price at which new securities (like stocks or bonds) are sold to investors during their initial offering (emission). 🏦
⚠️ Although both meanings exist, in general usage and current discussions, it usually refers to the price for environmental emissions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Emissionspreis
The word "Emissionspreis" is a masculine noun. The article is der.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Emissionspreis |
| Genitive | des | Emissionspreises |
| Dative | dem | Emissionspreis(e) |
| Accusative | den | Emissionspreis |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Emissionspreise |
| Genitive | der | Emissionspreise |
| Dative | den | Emissionspreisen |
| Accusative | die | Emissionspreise |
📝 Example Sentences
- Environmental context: Der Emissionspreis für eine Tonne CO₂ ist im letzten Jahr stark gestiegen.
(The carbon price for a ton of CO₂ has risen sharply in the last year.) - Environmental context: Unternehmen müssen die steigenden Emissionspreise in ihre Kalkulationen einbeziehen.
(Companies must include the rising carbon prices in their calculations.) - Financial context: Der Emissionspreis der neuen Aktien wurde auf 50 Euro festgelegt.
(The issue price of the new shares was set at 50 euros.) - Financial context: Der tatsächliche Börsenkurs lag bald über dem ursprünglichen Emissionspreis.
(The actual stock market price soon exceeded the original issue price.)
💡 Usage and Context
The use of "Emissionspreis" heavily depends on the context:
- Environment & Politics: Here, it almost exclusively refers to the price of greenhouse gas emissions. You'll find the term in discussions about climate change, Emissionshandel (emissions trading/cap and trade), CO₂-Steuern (CO₂ taxes), and climate protection measures. It's a key term in environmental economics. 🌍
- Economy & Finance: Here, it can mean either the price for environmental emissions (as a cost factor for companies) or the issue price for securities. The context (IPO, bond issue vs. production costs, carbon footprint) clarifies which meaning applies. 📈
Comparison:
- Emissionspreis vs. CO₂-Steuer: A CO₂-Steuer is one way for the government to set an emissions price. In contrast, the Emissionspreis in a trading system arises from the supply and demand of Emissionszertifikate (emission allowances).
- Emissionspreis vs. Ausgabepreis/Emissionskurs: In a financial context, these are synonyms for the price at the initial issuance of securities.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Aid: Think of "Der Preis" (the price). Whether it's for stocks or emissions, it's always der Preis. Preis is masculine, so Emissionspreis is too.
Meaning Aid (Environment): Imagine the environment sending an invoice (Rechnung) for pollution. The amount on the invoice is der Emissionspreis – the price for the emitted pollutants. 💨💸
Meaning Aid (Finance): When a company "emits" (issues) shares, it sets a starting Preis: the Emissionspreis. 🚀
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms
- For environmental emissions:
- For security issuance:
- Ausgabepreis (issue price)
- Emissionskurs (issue price/rate)
- Erstausgabepreis (initial issue price)
- Zeichnungspreis (subscription price)
Antonyms
- For environmental emissions:
- Emissionsreduktion (emission reduction - the goal)
- Kostenlose Zuteilung (free allocation - of allowances)
- Umweltsubvention (environmental subsidy - promoting instead of taxing)
- For security issuance:
- Rücknahmepreis (redemption price)
- Marktpreis / Börsenkurs (market price / stock price - later trading price)
⚠️ Similar, but Different Terms
- Emissionshandel: The system where emission allowances (Zertifikate) are traded, whose price is the Emissionspreis.
- Emissionszertifikat: The permit to emit a certain amount of greenhouse gases.
- Emissionsgrenzwert: An upper limit for permitted emissions.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Finanzminister den Umweltminister: "Was ist der Unterschied zwischen dem Emissionspreis für CO₂ und dem für neue Aktien?"
Antwortet der Umweltminister: "Beim CO₂-Preis hoffen wir, dass er so hoch wird, dass ihn keiner mehr zahlen will. Beim Aktien-Emissionspreis hoffen alle, dass er niedrig ist, damit ihn jeder kauft und er dann steigt!"
(The Finance Minister asks the Environment Minister: "What's the difference between the emissions price for CO₂ and the one for new stocks?"
The Environment Minister replies: "With the CO₂ price, we hope it gets so high that nobody wants to pay it anymore. With the stock issue price, everyone hopes it's low so that everyone buys it and then it goes up!")
📜 Poem about the Emissionspreis
Die Fabrik, sie raucht und sprüht,
was der Umwelt nicht erblüht.
Doch die Rechnung kommt sogleich,
macht die Bilanz nicht grade reich.
Der Emissionspreis, klar und kalt,
zeigt den Wert, den Schmutz er hat im Wald.
Ob Aktie neu, ob Qualm im Wind,
der Preis bestimmt, was es uns bringt.
(The factory smokes and sprays,
What doesn't bloom in nature's ways.
But the bill arrives right then,
Makes the balance sheet not rich again.
The emissions price, clear and cold,
Shows the value dirt has, we're told.
Whether new stock, or smoke in breeze,
The price determines what it brings with ease.)
🕵️♀️ Little Riddle
Ich habe einen Namen, der doppelt zählt,
mal an der Börse, mal in der Umweltwelt.
Für neues Papier bin ich der Start,
für Rauch aus dem Schlot eine teure Fahrt.
Mal heiß begehrt, mal stark erhöht,
damit die Luft bald reiner weht.
Wer bin ich?
Lösung: der Emissionspreis
(I have a name that counts twice,
Sometimes on the stock exchange, sometimes for environmental price.
For new paper, I am the start,
For smoke from the chimney, an expensive cart.
Sometimes highly sought after, sometimes sharply raised,
So that the air will soon be purely praised.
Who am I?
Solution: der Emissionspreis)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Emissionspreis" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Die Emission: Meaning "emission", "issuance", or "discharge". Comes from the Latin verb emittere (to send out, emit).
- Der Preis: Meaning "price", "cost", or "value".
Together, the meaning is "price for the emission/issuance".
Current Relevance: The meaning related to environmental contexts has gained significant importance in recent years due to the climate debate and is a fixed component of political and economic discussions.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Emissionspreis?
The German word 'Emissionspreis' is masculine: der Emissionspreis, des Emissionspreises, etc. It most commonly refers to the price for emitting greenhouse gases (carbon price) or sometimes the issue price of securities.