EU emissions spark new effort

The European Commission has vowed to ‘intensify’ climate change efforts, following last week’s publication figures that showed an increase in emissions during the last two years across the region.

Official statistics showed a greenhouse gas rise in the EU-15 of 0.3% in 2003 and 2004, leaving the overall position as 0.9% below the 1990 (base year) levels – significantly wide of the Kyoto Protocol target of an 8% reduction by 2012. Despite the emissions increase, the EU-15 recorded economic growth of 32% over the same period.

The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has been highlighted as the key factor in reversing the rising trends, with the 2008-2012 national allocations playing a vital role.

“To meet our emissions reduction target member states need to intensify their efforts to implement the many EU measures to combat climate change that have been agreed over the past few years. With their new national allocation plans, due by the end of this month, member states now have a major opportunity to reverse unsustainable emission trends and ensure they will achieve their Kyoto targets,” said Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas. "It is very encouraging that we have broken the link between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions, but this decoupling needs to be accelerated.”