Der er undtagelser i form af overgangsperioder for de østeuropæiske medlemsstater, som kun skal købe kvoter til 30 % af deres emissioner til at begynde med. Derudover fastlægges der incitamenter til energieffektivitet og en forpligtelse fra medlemsstaternes side til at investere mindst halvdelen af indtægterne i udviklingslande og nye teknologier, selv om formålet hermed ikke oplyses.
There are derogations in the form of transitional periods for Eastern European Member States, who must purchase allowances for just 30% of their emissions to begin with. In addition, incentives for energy efficiency are laid down as well as, albeit with no purpose specification, an obligation on the part of Member States to invest at least half of the revenues in developing countries and new technologies.