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Press Release
The report, 'Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe
2006', presents an evaluation of historic data between 1990 and
2004. It also evaluates projections of European countries’ progress
towards their 2010 greenhouse gas emissions targets.
“Levels of greenhouse gases would be much higher without current
efforts to cut emissions. However, several countries within the EU-15
are not doing enough and could jeopardise the collective effort,” said
Professor Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the
EEA.
The EU-15 has a Kyoto target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 8 % on
1990 levels by 2012. Within this overall target, each EU-15 member
state has a differentiated emissions target, which can be achieved by a
variety of means.
Only by implementing all existing and planned domestic policy measures
and using Kyoto mechanisms and carbon sinks, can emissions be brought
down to 8.0 %, the EU-15 target, according to the report. However,
this projection relies on figures from several Member States suggesting
they will cut emissions by more than is required to meet their national
targets and this cannot be assured, the report stresses.
Looking ahead to 2010, the report says that existing domestic policies
and measures will reduce EU-15 greenhouse gas emissions by a net effect
of 0.6 % from 1990 levels. When additional domestic policies and
measures (i.e. those planned but not yet implemented) are taken into
account, the EU-15 could reduce emissions by an additional 4.0 %.
The projected use of Kyoto mechanisms by ten of the EU-15 will reduce
emissions by a further 2.6 % at a cost of EUR 2 830 million. The
use of carbon sinks, such as planting forests to remove CO2,
would reduce emissions by an additional 0.8 %.
Between 1990 and 2004, EU-15 greenhouse gas emissions decreased from
most sectors, the report says. However, emissions from the transport
sector increased by nearly 26 % and are projected to increase to
35 % above 1990 levels by 2010, if countries use only existing
policies. If additional policies are implemented, Member States project
that transport emissions will, at best, stabilise at 2004 levels.
The ten new EU Member States are not part of the joint EU-15 target and
all, except Cyprus and Malta, have individual targets under the Kyoto
Protocol. They are all on track to meet their targets, but this is
largely due to the collapse of economies in the 1990s and emissions are
now rising again in these countries, the report says.
Also see:
The European Commission's new report, 'Progress towards achieving the Kyoto targets'
Background on the report
The report, prepared by the EEA and its European Topic Centre on Air
and Climate Change (ETC/ACC), complements the annual evaluation report
of the European Commission to the Council and European Parliament. For
more information see the Commission web site: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/gge.htm
The EEA report covers 33 countries including:
EU-15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
New Member States: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,
Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia.
Acceding countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Turkey.
Other EEA member countries: Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway,
Switzerland.
Data source
The report is based on data and information submitted by the countries
to the European Commission and the EEA by 6 June 2006.
EU Kyoto Targets
The EU-15 has a Kyoto target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 8 % on
1990 levels by 2012. Within this overall target, each EU-15 member
state has a differentiated reduction target; some should reduce
emissions while others are allowed a limited increase. New Member
States have individual targets except Cyprus and Malta, which have no
targets. Countries can achieve these targets by a variety of
means.
EU emissions trading scheme
The EU emissions trading scheme is the European Union’s climate change
policy tool, which helps industries to cut their CO2
emissions in a cost-effective way. It requires a cap on emissions for
all large CO2 emission sources.
Note: All Member States should have delivered a national allocation
plan (NAP) for the Kyoto period to the European Commission. This plan
should include “emission caps” for industries that are included in the
emission trading sectors, and should have been delivered by 30th June,
2006. However, not all countries have done so to date and the
Commission has not so far published formal opinions on the NAPs.
Because the EEA report only includes information on national
projections provided by countries by 6th June, 2006, it does not
include any new national projection information provided within the
recent NAPs. For more information on NAPs see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/2nd_phase_ep.htm
Domestic policies and measures
Domestic policies and measures take place within the national
boundaries of the country and include: the promotion of electricity
from renewable energy; improvements in energy efficiency; promotion of
biofuels in transport; reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from cars;
recovery of gases from landfills and reduction of fluorinated
gases.
Kyoto Mechanisms
The Kyoto Mechanisms help developed countries to achieve their Kyoto
targets by gaining credits through carbon cutting activities in other
countries. They also help the transfer of low-carbon technologies to
other countries. The projected use of Kyoto mechanisms by ten of the
EU-15 Member States will reduce emissions by 2010 by 2.6 %. These
countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. For more information
on Kyoto mechanisms see the UNFCCC web site: http://unfccc.int/kyoto_mechanisms/items/1673.php
Annex 2 – Overview of progress for EU Member States and other EEA
member countries
National projections for 2010 |
Policies and measures
included in |
EU-15 |
New EU Member States |
Other EEA member countries |
Kyoto target on track |
Existing domestic policies and measures |
Sweden* United Kingdom* |
Lithuania Poland |
Iceland |
Existing and planned domestic policies and measures |
France* Germany Greece |
Czech Republic* Estonia Hungary Latvia Slovakia Slovenia* |
Bulgaria Rumania |
|
Existing domestic policies and measures Use of Kyoto mechanisms |
Luxembourg |
|
|
|
Existing and planned domestic policies and measures Use of Kyoto mechanisms |
Finland The Netherlands* |
|
Switzerland |
|
Kyoto target not on track |
Existing and planned domestic policies and measures |
|
|
Norway Liechtenstein |
Existing and planned domestic policies and measures Use of Kyoto mechanisms |
Austria* Belgium* Denmark* Ireland* Italy Portugal* Spain* |
|
|
|
No Kyoto target |
|
|
Cyprus Malta |
Turkey |
Notes:
National projections provided by 6th June, 2006 have been
taken into account in this report.
* Projected net removal from carbon sink activities (land use change and forestry).
The EEA is based in Copenhagen. The agency aims to help achieve
significant and measurable improvement in Europe's environment through
the provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to
policy makers and the public.
Brendan Killeen,
Press Officer
Phone: +45 33 36 72 69
Mobile: +45 23 68 36 71
E-mail: brendan.killeen@eea.europa.eu
Marion Hannerup,
Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs
Phone: +45 33 36 71 60
Mobile: +45 51 33 22 43
E-mail: marion.hannerup@eea.europa.eu
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/media/newsreleases/ghgtrends2006-en or scan the QR code.
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