By Anne-France White - 26th October 2006
EU countries must step up the drive to cut emissions if they are to reach their Kyoto targets, the European commission has warned.
New annual projections published by the commission on October 27 show that with the existing policies, the EU-15’s greenhouse gas emissions will be cut by just 0.6 per cent by 2010.
The EU-15 have committed to reducing their collective emissions by eight per cent in 2008-2012 compared to 1990 levels.
But seven countries now project that they will exceed their individual emission limits: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
The report says an eight per cent cut can still be achieved by 2010 “provided that all actions planned by member states are fully implemented and deliver the emission savings anticipated”.
According to the commission, additional measures already agreed by the member states, added to reforestation and the purchase of emission reduction credits, should enable the member states to “just reach” their target.
As for the EU-25 as a whole, the projections show they are also lagging behind on cutting emissions.
All the new member states except Cyprus and Malta also have targets to cut emissions by six or eight per cent.
But the commission says the EU-25 will only cut emissions by 4.6 per cent unless additional measures are implemented.
“These projections show there is no room for complacency,” emphasised EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas.
“Those [member states] that are not on track urgently need to step up efforts to meet their targets, if necessary by taking further national measures to reduce emissions.”
Those countries that do not meet their 2012 targets will face an EU infringement procedure as well as international sanctions under Kyoto.
Meanwhile Dimas warned member states on October 23 that many National Allocation Plans (NAPs) will be sent back to Europe’s capitals for “amendments” and “corrections”.
He said many of the NAPs did not seem to take sufficient account of the real level of greenhouse gas emissions.
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