Brussels, 02/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - For the fifth year running, greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union fell considerably in 2008, a year that corresponds to the beginning of the first period of commitment under the Kyoto Protocol. The latest inventory of European emissions published on Wednesday 2 June by the European Environment Agency (EEA) bears this good news, as international talks on climate resume (Bonn, 31 May, 11 June). Data gathered by the EEA have been forwarded to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The inventory report reveals that, between 2007 and 2008, EU15 emissions fell by 1.9% while the economy notched up growth of 0.6%. EU27 emissions fell by 2% compared to 2007, thus reaching a level 11.3% below that of 1990 and 14.3% below that of the reference year (1990 for most member states).
Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action, welcomes this as an advantage for increasing the EU's credibility in international talks, but feels that the EU should not rest on its laurels. In a press release, she states: “With negotiations on a global climate agreement for the post-2012 era continuing, showing that Europe is able to deliver on our commitments under Kyoto is of paramount importance. The significant emission decreases we have achieved over the past five years clearly illustrate the value of binding targets. However, 2008 was only the first year of the Kyoto commitment period and all member states need to continue their efforts to ensure they meet their targets for 2008-2012”. Hedegaard goes on to say: “The 2008 reductions were not only due to the financial crisis but are also the result of the many ambitious policies that the EU and its member states have implemented over the years and whose effects are becoming increasingly apparent. Our commitment to reduce EU-wide emissions by at least 20% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels, and by 80-95% by 2050, means that the transition to the low-carbon economy must and will continue”.
In 2008, verified emissions from all installations in the EU ETS (emissions trading scheme) totalled 2.12 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, representing about 43% of total EU emissions. ETS emissions in 2008 were 3.06% lower than the 2007 level (in 2009, ETS emissions fell a further 11.6% - EUROPE 10142).
There is no collective target for emissions reduction in the EU27 under the Kyoto Protocol as the last 12 member states had not yet joined the EU at that time. (A.N./transl.jl)