EU and Kyoto

According to the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the EU and its Member States are committed to reducing emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases by 8% below the 1990 level over the period 2008 to 2012, and the central and east European (CEE) countries to reductions of 0% to 8%. In June 1998, a system of ‘burden sharing’ was agreed by EU Member States.

In the EU "burden sharing" arrangement, EU Member States agreed on different emission targets for each Member State, according to different economic circumstances with the ultimate goal to assure fulfilment of the EC commitments in the Kyoto Protocol.

News:

The "Climate action and renewable energy package"
The "Climate action and renewable energy package" is the European Commission's legislative proposal to achieve agreed EU objectives in the fight against climate change.
On 23 January 2008 the European Commission put forward a far-reaching package of proposals that will deliver on the European Union's ambitious commitments to fight climate change and promote renewable energy up to 2020 and beyond. The EU has committed to reducing its overall emissions to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, and is ready to scale up this reduction to as much as 30% under a new global climate change agreement if other developed countries make comparable efforts. It has also set itself the target of increasing the share of renewables in energy use to 20% by 2020. The "Climate action and renewable energy package" sets out the contribution expected from each Member State to meeting these targets and proposes a series of measures to help achieve them.
23.01.08, © EU

Why new EU states can emit more
It may seem unfair but while the old countries of the EU are facing demands to slash their carbon emissions, the opposite is true for the new member states. The European Commission has announced national targets for each country, which will mean that the poorer the nation, the easier the ride.
23.01.08, © BBC

EU will bis 2020 CO2-Ausstoß um 20 Prozent reduzieren
Die EU will den Ausstoß der Treibhausgase bis 2020 um mindestens 20 Prozent unter das Niveau von 1990 reduzieren, egal ob es eine internationale Vereinbarung für die Zeit nach 2012 gibt oder nicht. Darauf haben sich am Dienstag nach längeren Beratungen die Umweltminister einstimmig geeinigt.
20.02.07, © ORF

Climate change: EU on track to reach Kyoto targets, latest projections show
The EU is well on its way to achieve its Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases on the basis of the policies, measures and third-country projects already implemented or planned.
05.04.06, © EU

Commission asks member states to fulfil their obligations
The European Commission has decided to take infringement procedures against a number of Member States over violations of four separate pieces of EU climate change legislation. The aim is to ensure that the EU and its Member States meet all their various reporting obligations under the UN Climate Change Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. Part of the Commission’s legal action also aims to ensure that the EU Emissions Trading Scheme becomes fully operational. Five Member States have still not linked up to the EU-wide electronic registries system for emissions trading despite a December 2004 deadline to do so.
06.04.06, © European Commission

Chicago climate mart to try CO2 link with EU
A voluntary Chicago emissions market said on Tuesday it is trying to arrange a deal in which its members can use carbon dioxide emissions allowances from the European Union in "demonstration transfers" to meet commitments in its bourse.
05.04.06, © Reuters

Background:

Communication "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2° Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond
On 10 January 2007 the European Commission set out proposals and options for keeping climate change to manageable levels in its Communication "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2° Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond."
© European Commission 2007

The European Community's initial report under the Kyoto Protocol
This EEA report constitutes the main part of the European Community's submission of its initial report to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report establishes the assigned amount for the European Community (EU-15), and demonstrates its capacity to account for its emissions and assigned amount for the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol: 2008-2012.
© European Commission 2007

Greenhouse gas emission trends
The latest projections from pre-2004 EU Member States (EU-15) show that greenhouse gas emissions could be brought down to 8.0 % below 1990 levels by 2010. If all existing and planned domestic policy measures are implemented and Kyoto mechanisms as well as carbon sinks are used, the EU-15 will reach its Kyoto Protocol target.
© EEA 2006

European Environment Agency-EEA, Reports

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