EU plans to expand emissions scheme

The EU’s emissions trading scheme could go global and extend to more gases, according to a new paper tabled by the European commission.

The communication sets out the commission’s agenda for revising the EU emissions trading scheme – Brussels plans to make a formal proposal by the end of 2007, with the changes taking effect in 2013.

The commission says it wants to extend the scheme to other greenhouse gases besides CO2, including nitrous oxide from ammonia production and methane from coal mines.

In a bid to create more predictability for industry, the commission also wants to harmonise the process used to set caps on emissions and allocate emission allowances.

Similarly, the paper says requirements for monitoring and reporting emissions should be streamlined between the member states.

Finally, the commission wants to work on linking the EU scheme to other plans around the world, such as the emissions trading schemes planned by California and the USA’s northeastern states.

A spokeswoman added that the EU was in “advanced discussions” with Norway on emissions and that the commission “hopes very much that they will join as fast as possible”.

Brussels says it will discuss the review extensively with industry before making its legislative proposal in 2007.

The new communication is one of many ongoing EU moves on climate change as a global UN conference on climate change unfolds in Nairobi.

Brussels is set to table a proposal in the next few weeks on bringing aviation into the trading scheme.

The commission is also due to rule on the member states’ national allocation plans for CO2 by the end of November – it is expected to criticise national governments for setting unambitious targets and putting too many permits on the market. 

Meanwhile, environmental NGO Climate Action Network said on November 13 that “current efforts to stop dangerous climate change are insufficient”.

The organisation argues that “a few exceptions notwithstanding, the big emitters [assessed] are not moving forward and even take steps back on climate protection”.

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