Dublin, 22/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - In the future, forests and agricultural land will be used by the EU to help fight climate change through the compulsory accounting of their CO2 emissions and absorption, and a harmonised methodology to achieve this end was adopted by the Council of the EU on Monday 22 April.
The decision was adopted without debate on accounting rules and on action plans on greenhouse gas emissions and absorption action plans resulting from activities related to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). This decision establishes a harmonised legislative framework defining strict and detailed rules for the accounting of emissions/absorption and transposes into European law the agreement concluded in Durban in December 2011 at the international climate negotiations (COP 17). It also makes it binding on member states to provide information on the action they carry out to limit or reduce emissions and maintain or enhance absorption.
The aim is threefold: to strengthen the capacity of forests and agricultural soils to mitigate CO2 emissions, to raise the profile of the measures taken at national level and to promote good practice.
This decision represents a first step towards the integration of forestry and farming into EU commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will come into force 20 days after its publication into the EU's Official Journal. The European Parliament approved it on 13 March last. (AN/transl.fl)