EU can reach Kyoto target according to new report

A new report from the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) indicates that the European Union's 8% greenhouse gas reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol can be achieved cost-effectively.

Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said 'The Programme has shown that the EU can meet its Kyoto target without imposing unreasonable costs on the European economy. It is now a matter of political will to move forward and prepare and implement the necessary initiatives.'

The ECCP was established by the Commission in March 2000 to help identify the most environmentally and cost effective additional measures that would enable the EU to meet its target under the Kyoto Protocol - namely an 8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2008-2012.

The report makes a distinction between greenhouse gas reduction measures that are 'at an advanced stage of preparation', those 'in the pipeline' and those for which 'more work is needed'.

The first category contains eight measures at an advance stage of preparation with an estimated cost-effective emission reduction potential of about 240 MtCO2 eq. (71% of EU's commitment).

Among the measures identified are proposals for a framework directive for an EU emissions trading scheme, a directive on the energy performance of buildings, directives on biofuels and on energy efficient public procurement and a framework directive on fluorinated gases.

An additional eleven measures are in the pipeline with an estimated emission reduction potential of about 140 MtCO2 eq. (41% of the total necessary under the Kyoto commitment). Proposed measures include directives on combined heat and power, energy services and minimum efficiency standards for electrical equipment, a revision of the IPPC directive with regard to energy efficiency provisions, a technology procurement initiative, the 'motor challenge programme initiative' and support for improving the research infrastructure on climate change.

Another 22 measures are considered to be in need of further work. Measures in this category are related to the promotion of heat production from renewable energy sources, long-term agreements with energy intensive industries, fiscal measures for passenger cars, a voluntary agreement with the car industry on light commercial vehicles and further technological improvements for vehicles and fuels.

The preparatory work carried out under the ECCP will enable the European Commission to present a strategy document in the second half of this year on the implementation of the EU's Kyoto Protocol commitments, followed by concrete proposals to be submitted to the Council and the European Parliament.

The ECCP report can be downloaded at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/eccp.htm

The Economic Evaluation of Sectoral Emission Reduction Objectives for Climate Change report can be downloaded at:

http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/enveco/climate_change/sectoral_objectives.htm