Brussels, 11/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - In her presentation of the European Commission report on European greenhouse gas emissions to the press on Tuesday (see EUROPE yesterday p 11), European Commissioner Margot Wallström indicated that these emissions had fallen by 3.5% in the Union in 2000 compared to 1990 (-0.5% for C02). The Commissioner explained, nevertheless, that this general trend should not be used to hide significant disparities between Member States. Ms Wallström explained that positive results had been due essentially to efforts made by Germany, United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden and France. Nine Member States, however, have not attained the objective set out in the framework of the Kyoto Protocol for the EU. Bottom of the class were Spain, Ireland and Portugal, where emission levels rose significantly. Ms Wallström considered that the agreement concluded at the Council on Monday would oblige these countries to improve their record. She stressed that existing measures would not allow for the Kyoto objective to be attained by 2010 (an 8% reduction in greenhouse gases) but just a reduction of 4.7% (compared to 1990), the Commissioner indicated that additional measures were needed, mainly in the transport sector. She highlighted the fact that most Member States had already identified what actions would be necessary. Before making an announcement on next year's proposals on fluorinated gas, the Commissioner declared, "We will be able to reduce our emissions by 12%, this involves a question of political will and not technical feasibility".
Ms Wallström also presented the third annual report on the effectiveness of the Community strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars. The report concludes that the strategy has so far resulted in a 10% reduction of CO2 emissions from new passenger cars sold on the EU market since 1995. While welcoming the result, the Commissioner explained that the main element of the strategy is the commitment from the European, Japanese and Korean car industries to reduce CO2 emissions from new passenger cars. While welcoming the result, the Commission stresses that additional efforts are necessary on the part of manufacturers to meet the final target, lowering the average C02 emissions level in new cars to 120g CO2/km by 2005, or by 2010 at the latest.