Brussels, 20/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - Greenhouse gas emissions from the 11,000 or so companies participating in the EU's carbon trading scheme, ETS, fell by just 0.4% last year, compared with a 4.5% reduction in 2014), according to information from the Union Registry published by the European Commission on Thursday 19 May.
Verified greenhouse gas emissions from stationary installations amounted to 1800 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, 0.37% less than in 2014.
Strong reduction in surplus quotas. For the first time, the surplus quotas were reduced by around 300 million to 1.78 billion, as a result of a number of factors, including the 'backloading' measure (temporarily withdrawing surplus quotas from the market) without which the surplus would have been 40% higher at the end of 2015, a stable level of emissions, fewer international credits were exchanged (200 million fewer than in 2014). The carbon market stability reserve will start in 2019 and deal with the current surplus quotas.
Overall, companies continue to properly respect the EU rules. Fewer than 1% of installations declaring emissions for 2015 failed to surrender allowances covering all of their emissions by the 30 April 2016 deadline. These installations are typically small and together account for less than 0.5% of the emissions covered by ETS.
Verified CO2 emissions from air transport within the European Economic Area (EEA) totalled 56.9 million tonnes, up 3.6% on 2014 (54.9 million tonnes). Airlines responsible for more than 99% of aviation emission covered by ETS complied with the legislation in 2015. These airlines include 100 airline operators based outside the EU and operating flights within the EEA. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)