Brussels, 14/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - In 2005, EU27 greenhouse gas emissions were down 0.7% compared to the previous year, and those of the EU15 were down 2% compared to 1990. This relatively good news masks the very unequal performances of member states, showing that EU15 efforts must be stepped up to keep to the objective set for collectively reducing average emission levels by 8% by 2008-2012 compared to 1990, the Kyoto Protocol reference year.
The above results appeared in the annual European Community inventory on greenhouse gas emissions established by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Forwarded to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change on 27 May, the official inventory report was published on 14 June.
On the basis of this data, Stavros Dimas, environment commissioner, strongly encourages member states to step up the rate of their economic structural reforms to ensure a more marked and more sustainable emissions reduction. He nonetheless welcomes the reduction in emissions as, over this same period, EU gross domestic production increased 1.8%. He sees this as proof that the EU has clearly managed to decouple economic growth from increased emissions.
In a press release, the Commission states: “It is very encouraging that we are cutting emissions while the European economy grows strongly, but it is clear that many member states need to accelerate their efforts to limit emissions significantly if the EU is to meet its Kyoto target. With the adoption of long-term emission reduction targets by EU leaders in March, there is no reason to wait to take bold steps to achieve the necessary structural changes in how we produce and use energy. Doing so will ensure that emissions cuts become progressively deeper and remain permanent”.
The inventory report revealed that, over the 2004-2005 period, emissions in the EU15 fell by 0.8%, largely due to a 0.7% fall in CO2 emissions (26 million tonnes).
Compared with 1990, emissions in 2005 were down by 2% - largely attributable to a fall in emissions in the electricity production and heating sectors, households and services, and road transport.
Germany, Finland and the Netherlands made the largest contributions to reductions in the EU15, the only one to be constrained by a common target under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol (the EU27 has no common target under Kyoto).
Germany reduced its emissions by 2.3% (23.5 million tonnes CO2 equivalent) thanks to its shift from coal to gas in public electricity and urban heating production, increasing the efficiency of its road transport (encouraging diesel cars, introduction of ecotaxes on drivers) and an innovative recycling policy to reduce fluoride gases. Finland made a reduction of 14.6% (11.9 million tonnes CO2 equivalent), largely through a reduction in the use of fossil fuels in public electricity and urban heating production. The Netherlands reduced its emissions by 2.9% (6.3 million tonnes CO2 equivalent) through lesser use of fossil fuels and a mild winter. Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxemburg, Sweden and the United Kingdom also reduced their emissions.
On the other hand, Spain was, in absolute terms, the country with the greatest increase in greenhouse gas emissions (a rise of 3.6%, or 15.4 million tonnes CO2 equivalent). This may be attributed largely to the 17% increase in electricity production by fossil fuel power plants, combined with a 33% fall in hydroelectric power production, caused by lower river levels. Austria, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Portugal all, also, saw emissions increases in 2005.
Romania can be proud of its performance, with a 4% reduction (6.4 million tonnes CO2 equivalent). The Czech Republic (-1%), Estonia (-2.3%) and Slovakia (-1.6%) also performed well.
2005 is the first year for which the EU has verified data on CO2 emissions from installations taking part in the Community emissions trading scheme (EU ETS), which came into effect on 1 January 2005. In that year, the system covered around 50% of EU25 CO2 emissions and 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to about 2 billion tonnes.
A lack of independently verified emissions data for the years before the EU ETS was launched makes it difficult to measure the scheme's full impact on emissions. However, some early academic research indicates that emissions may have fallen by several per cent in 2005 compared with their level before the start of the EU ETS, the European Commission points out.
EU15 not on track to meet Kyoto targets, say FoE
Concerned by these figures, environmental NGO Friends of the Earth Europe (FoE) urges member states to do more. “The new data clearly show that the EU is still way off course to meet its Kyoto target. The slight drop in emissions in 2005 is a decrease over only one year and is by no means a trend yet. European governments have to seriously increase their efforts to combat climate change, with drastic measures now to set the EU's emissions on a downward path into the long term,” said Sonja Meister.
While it is true that the “slight reduction” in emissions in 2005 is the very first fall since 2001, the NGO highlights that the reductions in Germany, Finland and the Netherlands hide rises in many other countries like Spain and Lithuania. In addition, the combined emissions of the EU15 were only 1.5% below 1990 levels, well below the 8% reduction required by 2012. Spain, Luxemburg, Austria, Portugal, Italy and Ireland, in particular, are still very far from their Kyoto emissions targets. (an)