BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Tuesday denied Britain's request to increase the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) its companies may emit in the period 2005-2007.
BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Tuesday denied Britain's request to increase the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) its companies may emit in the period 2005-2007.
The European Union executive has previously said Britain's desire to revise a plan that was approved in July to boost the amount that industry could pollute was not acceptable.
Britain said in March it would go ahead with its original plan to limit CO2 output under the European Union's emissions trading scheme but would take the Commission to the EU court to to have its revised plan -- which would allow for more emissions -- reconsidered.
"Our decision should not come as a surprise since we have told the UK authorities that its request was not acceptable," Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said in a statement.
"On the other hand I warmly welcome that the UK has nonetheless chosen to issue the originally planned number of allowances, which we had approved. This will allow UK companies to start participating fully in emissions trading."
The EU emissions trading system started in January but not all 25 nations are yet on board. The system allows companies who exceed or undershoot their CO2 limits to buy or sell allowances -- essentially the right to pollute.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
