Non-Industrial Emissions Key for Meeting Kyoto Targets

Copenhagen, November 12 (ots/PRNewswire) - A report
(http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2009_9) by the
European Environment Agency released today shows that the European
Union and all Member States but one are on track to meet their Kyoto
Protocol commitments to limit and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions.

Whereas the Protocol requires that the EU-15 reduce average
emissions during 2008-2012 to 8 % below 1990 levels, the latest
projections indicate that the EU-15 will go further, reaching a total
reduction of more than 13 % below the base year.

Commenting on the findings, EEA Executive Director Professor
Jacqueline McGlade said:

"It is encouraging that Europe's climate-changing emissions are
expected to continue decreasing, outperforming the objectives set by
the Kyoto Protocol. Such an accomplishment should encourage all
countries to agree on much larger reductions of global emissions,
sealing a global deal in Copenhagen this December. Commitments to
deep emission cuts are urgently needed to preserve our chances to
keep planetary temperature increases below 2degreesC."

The EEA report
(http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2009_9) shows that
the reductions in the period 2008-2012 will be achieved through a
combination of existing and additional policies, the purchase by
governments of credits from emission-reducing projects outside the
EU, the trading of emission allowances by participants in the EU
emission trading scheme (EU ETS) and forestry activities that absorb
carbon from the atmosphere. The trading scheme primarily covers large
carbon-emitting industries, which represent about 40 % of EU
greenhouse gas emissions.

Looking further ahead, almost three quarters of the EU's
unilateral target to cut emissions to 20 % below 1990 levels by 2020
could be achieved domestically (i.e. without purchase of credits
outside the EU).

The report highlights the importance of the EU ETS in helping
Member States meet their targets. It also stresses, however, that
governments need to focus on reducing emissions in the sectors not
covered by the ETS, such as transport, agriculture and households.

How could the EU achieve the projected reductions?

The report foresees a variety of factors contributing to the
EU-15's total reduction of more than 13%:

- Existing policies and measures for the period 2008-2012 could account
for 6.9 percentage points of the total reduction.
- If Member States implement additional measures as planned, the total
reduction could reach 8.5 %, although this will largely depend on
combined efforts in four main emitting countries (France, Germany,
Spain and the United Kingdom).
- The use of Kyoto's flexible mechanisms by governments could
contribute an additional 2.2 percentage points reduction
- Absorbing carbon dioxide through enhanced carbon sinks (e.g. improved
forest management) will contribute with an additional 1 percentage
point reduction.
- Purchase of emission allowances and credits by EU ETS
operators is expected to deliver a further 1.4 percentage point
reduction.

Emission reductions may be furthered by economic recession

Five EU-15 Member States (France, Germany, Greece, Sweden and the
United Kingdom) have already reduced domestic emissions below their
targets. Only Austria expects to fall short of its commitment under
current conditions and will have to intensify its efforts to reduce
emissions in non-ETS sectors.

All other Member States and EEA member countries with emissions
targets under the Kyoto Protocol anticipate that they will meet their
commitments.

Member States' projections have started to take into account the
recent economic downturn but the report finds that GHG emissions may
still be overestimated in the short term. As such, the recession
could bring about further cuts in emissions.

Links:

- Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe 2009
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2009_9

- Policies and measures database
http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/pam

- Emission country profiles
http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/ghg-country-profiles

- Greenhouse gas data viewer
http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/PivotApp/pivot.aspx?pivotid=475

- European Union Emissions Trading Scheme data viewer
http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/PivotApp/pivot.aspx?pivotid=473

- European Commission: Greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/gge_progress.htm

ENGLISH: http://www.eea.europa.eu/pressroom/newsreleases/
non-industrial-emissions-key-for-meeting-kyoto-targets

DANSK: http://www.eea.europa.eu/da/pressroom/newsreleases/ ikke-i
ndustrielle-udledninger-afgorende-for-opfyldelse-af-kyoto-malene

DEUTSCH: http://www.eea.europa.eu/de/pressroom/newsreleases/
nichtindustrielle-emissionen-2013-der-schlussel-fur-die-einhaltung-
der-kioto-ziele

ESPAÑOL: http://www.eea.europa.eu/es/pressroom/newsreleases/ las-
emisiones-no-industriales-son-clave-para-alcanzar-los-objetivos-de-ky
oto

FRANÇAIS: http://www.eea.europa.eu/fr/pressroom/newsreleases/
le-role-cle-des-emissions-non-industrielles-pour-atteindre-les-
objectifs-de-kyoto

ITALIANO: http://www.eea.europa.eu/it/pressroom/newsreleases/
le-emissioni-non-industriali-sono-fondamentali-per-il-conseguimento
-degli-obiettivi-di-kyoto

POLSKI: http://www.eea.europa.eu/pl/pressroom/newsreleases/
pozaprzemys142owe-emisje-kluczem-do-osiagniecia-celow-z-kioto

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For media enquiries only
Òscar Romero i Sanchez
Press officer
Phone: +45-3336-7207
Mobile: +45-2368-3671
press@eea.europa.eu
Gülçin Karadeniz
Press officer
Phone: +45-3336-7172
Mobile: +45-2368-3653
press@eea.europa.eu

ots Originaltext: European Environment Agency
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For media enquiries only: Òscar Romero i Sanchez, Press officer,
Phone: +45-3336-7207, Mobile: +45-2368-3671, press@eea.europa.eu;
Gülçin Karadeniz, Press officer, Phone: +45-3336-7172, Mobile:
+45-2368-3653, press@eea.europa.eu