Brussels, 27/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - Several days ahead of the opening of the Bali conference (3-14 December) where the international negotiations on the future global framework to combat climate change beyond 2012 are due to be launched under the aegis of the UN, the 2005 figures and the EU emissions projections for 2007, which were published on 27 November by the European Environment Agency, are reassuring on the EU's performance, the European Commission says. But the EU should not rest on its laurels. “Its credibility as a continent is at stake in the fight against climate change”, said Stavros Dimas, the environment commissioner.
According to the EEA, the EU15 (i.e. the 15 'old' member states, as no collective target has been set yet for emissions in the EU25 or 27) is on track to achieve, or even exceed the target to which it committed under the Kyoto Protocol, of collectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8% in 2008-2012 compared to levels in 1990 (reference year), as long as the member states implement all of the extra measures currently being discussed.
The EEA report entitled “Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in EUROPE 2007” was the basis of the Commission's annual progress report on the EU's 2008-2012 targets, which is the first period of commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. It presents an evaluation of data between 1990 and 2005 - the last year for which complete data is available - and assesses the member states' projections on future emissions, which give a good indication of the progress made towards achieving the Kyoto targets. The annual progress report confirms that emissions in the EU15 have dropped by 0.8% between 2004-2005 and that in 2005 these emissions were 2% lower than the level in 1990 (this news has been known since 14 June, when the annual European Community greenhouse gas inventory was published by the EEA - see EUROPE 9446). The real news is the latest projections from the member states, which appear to show that the existing policies and measures (which have therefore already been implemented) should enable emissions in the EU15 to be reduced by 4% on 1990 levels by 2010, halfway through the period over which the Kyoto targets are due to be met.
In the view of Stavros Dimas, speaking to the press on Tuesday 27 November, “this is good news, as we have broken the link between economic growth and increasing emissions. In 2005 our emissions were 2% lower than in 1990 when in the same period we recorded economic growth of more than 35%”. But the commissioner also encouraged the member states to implement the extra measures planned as quickly as possible. The planned purchase by 10 of the 15 'old' member states of emissions credits resulting from emission reduction projects in third countries will enable an additional reduction of 2.5%. By adding afforestation and reforestation projects to create “carbon sinks”, the total emissions reduction could reach 7.4% (or 0.6% below the Kyoto target). “To achieve the target of - 8%, additional measures are needed”, said Stavros Dimas, who is nonetheless confident that the EU will achieve its aims, or even a reduction of 11.4% if the Commission proposals to include civil aviation in the Community emission trading scheme (ETS) from 2011 and to impose a 10% reduction in greenhouse gases produced by fuel used in transport between 2011-2020 are implemented quickly.
Stavros Dimas, who thinks that the Commission has already played a not inconsiderable part in achieving the Kyoto target with its decisions on national allocations in the ETS for 2008-2012, said that “it is also a solid foundation for achieving more ambitious objectives by 2020”. He also confirmed that the broad energy-climate package decided at the March European Council, which reviews the ETS, the distribution of efforts among the member states in additionally reducing emission and the distribution of the 20% of the energy bundle from renewable sources, and the proposed directive on carbon capture and storage, will be presented by the Commission on 23 January. A tour of the capitals has begun for bilateral consultations with the member states to explain “our intentions on our targets”, along with “information given at the Environment Council of 30 October” (EUROPE 9535), Stavros Dimas said, citing the trips which have already been made to Finland, France, Bulgaria and Germany. “We explain and listen to the member states”, he added. On the subject of the Bali negotiations on a post-2012 global agreement, the commissioner stressed the need for these to be concluded before the end of 2009 for an entry into force in 2012. “The USA is no longer opposed to starting negotiations. The new Australian prime minister has said that he wants to make combating climate change a priority and to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. I welcome this constructive approach. I hope that the USA will follow suit”, the commissioner said, declaring himself “cautiously optimistic for Bali”. (A.N.)