[PWC-MEDIA] EEA Press release: Deep emission cuts give the EU a head start under the Kyoto Protocol
- From: "Oosterhuis, Anneke" <Anneke.Oosterhuis@xxxxxx>
- To: undisclosed-recipients:;
- Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:44:37 +0200
EEA Press release
Copenhagen, Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Embargoed until Tuesday, 12 October 2010, noon CET
Deep emission cuts give the EU a head start under the Kyoto Protocol
A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that large drop in
emissions seen in 2008 and 2009 gives EU-15 a head start to reach and even
overachieve its 8 % reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. Austria, Denmark
and Italy, however, need to step up their current efforts until 2012 to ensure
that their contribution to the common EU-15 target is delivered. The EEA report
also shows that EU-27 is well on track towards achieving its 20 % reduction
target by 2020.
The EEA report 'Tracking progress towards Kyoto and 2020
targets<http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/progress-towards-kyoto/>'
presents an overview of the progress actually seen in 2008 (and 2009 where data
are available) in European countries towards their respective targets under the
Kyoto Protocol. Based on aggregated emission projections at EU level, the
report also presents an assessment of projected progress of the EU-15 towards
its 8 % reduction commitment and of the EU-27 towards its 20 % reduction target
by 2020.
'We cannot afford to wait until after the end of the Kyoto period to start
implementing policies targeting sectors not covered by the EU ETS, such as
transport and residential heating. These sectors are crucial for the EU targets
set for 2020,' said Professor Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the EEA.
Key findings
· When looking at 2008 and 2009, the two first years of the Kyoto
commitment period, the EU-15 appears to be well on track towards achieving its
commitment of reducing emissions by 8 % compared to base-year levels. Together,
the EU-15 countries are estimated to have reduced their average annual
emissions over these two years by more than 250 million tonnes CO2 equivalent
beyond the reductions needed for achieving their common Kyoto target. This puts
EU-15 collectively 5.9 % below the 8 % Kyoto reduction target. The figures
take into account the planned use of the Kyoto Protocol's flexible mechanisms
by governments (2.7 % of base-year emissions) and the expected sequestration of
atmospheric carbon due to forestry activities (1.0 % of base-year emissions).
However, failure by any EU-15 Member State to achieve its own burden-sharing
target could jeopardize the possibility for the EU-15 to achieve its common
target.
· Current emission levels and projections show that the EU is well on
track towards achieving its 2020 reduction target of 20 % with emission
reductions achieved in the EU territories only, provided that Member States
fully implement the Climate and Energy package adopted in 2009. Recent
estimates by the
EEA<http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/recession-accelerates-the-decline-in>
also confirm this downward trend, with the EU-27's 2009 emissions expected to
stand 17.3 % below their 1990 level.
· Based on their 2008 emission levels, almost all European countries
with a Kyoto target were on track to meet their individual targets. However,
three EU Member States (Austria, Denmark and Italy), two other EEA countries
(Liechtenstein and Switzerland) and one EU candidate country (Croatia) need to
step up their efforts before 2012 to be able to meet their targets.
· Because the allocation of emission allowances to the EU ETS is
already decided upon for the full period 2008-2012, reducing emissions in the
sectors not covered by the EU ETS - such as transport, residential heating,
agriculture or waste - are necessary for achieving the Kyoto targets.
· The economic crisis largely contributed to the drop in total EU-27
greenhouse gas emissions in 2009 compared to 2008 (by 6.9 % according to EEA
estimates<http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/recession-accelerates-the-decline-in>),
but its impact was felt less significantly in the sectors not included in the
EU ETS (- 3.3%) than in the sectors included (- 11.7 %). Return to economic
growth could temporarily level off or even reverse the decline in emissions,
but the declining trend is expected to continue.
[cid:image003.png@01CB6A0B.38B9DB40]
Notes to the editor
The EEA report 'Tracking progress towards Kyoto and 2020 targets' can be found
at http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/progress-towards-kyoto/.
The European Commission also publishes a report (LINK) today assessing the EU's
progress towards the Kyoto commitments, which takes into account actual
emissions and projections to the end of the 2008-2012 commitment period,
whereas the EEA report is based on actual emissions in 2008 (and 2009 where
data are available). As such, the two reports complement each other.
The EEA's report will be followed later in the year by an in-depth analysis of
the links between historic emission trends and the policies and measures
implemented in the EU.
Background on EU emission reduction commitments
Under the Kyoto Protocol, the EU-15 has a common commitment to reduce emissions
on average by 8 % between 2008 and 2012 compared to emissions in the 'base
year' (mostly 1990). Unlike the EU-15, the EU-27 does not have a common target
under the Kyoto Protocol and therefore the EU-27 does not have an applicable
base year against which to compare emission changes. Emission changes compared
to 1990 are relevant for the EU-27 as it has made a unilateral commitment to
achieve at least a 20 % reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared
to 1990.
About the European Environment Agency (EEA)
The EEA is based in Copenhagen. The Agency aims to help achieve significant and
measurable improvement in Europe's environment by providing timely, targeted,
relevant and reliable information to policymakers and the public.
EEA member countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom.
Contact information
For media inquiries:
Ms Gülçin Karadeniz,
Press officer
Phone: +45 3336 7172
Mobile: +45 2368 3653
gulcin.karadeniz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:gulcin.karadeniz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Ms Iben Stanhardt
Press officer
Phone: +45 3336 7168
Mobile: +45 2336 1381
Iben.stanhardt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Iben.stanhardt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
______________________________________________________________________
Other related posts:
- » [PWC-MEDIA] EEA Press release: Deep emission cuts give the EU a head start under the Kyoto Protocol - Oosterhuis, Anneke
