A first glimpse at 2008 emissions trading data

Topics: Climate change ,

Published: Apr 03, 2009 Last modified: Apr 13, 2011

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is launching a revamped version of its EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) data viewer, allowing users to retrieve easily the latest greenhouse gas emissions covered by the EU ETS up to 2008. Data available as of 29 April 2009 covers 85% of the emissions encompassed within the EU ETS.

This preliminary data indicates that a reduction of emissions has taken place in the main emitting sectors between 2007 and 2008. The data viewer can generate customised graphs and tables showing emissions released by combustion plants, oil refineries, coke ovens, iron and steel plants, and factories making cement, glass, lime, brick, ceramics, pulp and paper in any EU Member State. Data comes from the CITL (Community Independent Transaction Log) and will be updated once 2008 emissions data are complete.

The viewer shows, for the first time, emissions data from the second trading period (2008-2012) of the EU ETS. This phase corresponds to the initial commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol during which EU Member States must meet their targets for limiting or reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

The EU ETS viewer has a similar look and feel to some of the popular data viewing tools released by the European Environment Agency, such as the greenhouse gas viewer.

About the EU Emission Trading Scheme

The EU ETS is the largest multi-country, multi-sector greenhouse gas emission trading scheme world-wide. It is based on the Directive 2003/87/EC and started operating in January 2005. The ultimate goal of the EU ETS is to help combat climate change under the Kyoto Protocol and is the first international trading system for GHG in the world.

The scheme covers more than 12 000 installations in the 27 Member States ranging from oil refineries and power plants to cement, iron and ceramic production facilities. Emissions from these sectors account for nearly 40 % of the European Union total greenhouse gas emissions.