COPENHAGEN, November 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A report (http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2009_9) by the European Environment Agency released today shows that the European Union and all Member States but one are on track to meet their Kyoto Protocol commitments to limit and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Whereas the Protocol requires that the EU-15 reduce average emissions during 2008-2012 to 8 % below 1990 levels, the latest projections indicate that the EU-15 will go further, reaching a total reduction of more than 13 % below the base year.

Commenting on the findings, EEA Executive Director Professor Jacqueline McGlade said:

"It is encouraging that Europe's climate-changing emissions are expected to continue decreasing, outperforming the objectives set by the Kyoto Protocol. Such an accomplishment should encourage all countries to agree on much larger reductions of global emissions, sealing a global deal in Copenhagen this December. Commitments to deep emission cuts are urgently needed to preserve our chances to keep planetary temperature increases below 2degreesC."

The EEA report (http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2009_9) shows that the reductions in the period 2008-2012 will be achieved through a combination of existing and additional policies, the purchase by governments of credits from emission-reducing projects outside the EU, the trading of emission allowances by participants in the EU emission trading scheme (EU ETS) and forestry activities that absorb carbon from the atmosphere. The trading scheme primarily covers large carbon-emitting industries, which represent about 40 % of EU greenhouse gas emissions.

Looking further ahead, almost three quarters of the EU's unilateral target to cut emissions to 20 % below 1990 levels by 2020 could be achieved domestically (i.e. without purchase of credits outside the EU).

The report highlights the importance of the EU ETS in helping Member States meet their targets. It also stresses, however, that governments need to focus on reducing emissions in the sectors not covered by the ETS, such as transport, agriculture and households.

How could the EU achieve the projected reductions?

The report foresees a variety of factors contributing to the EU-15's total reduction of more than 13%:

    - Existing policies and measures for the period 2008-2012 could account
      for 6.9 percentage points of the total reduction.
    - If Member States implement additional measures as planned, the total
      reduction could reach 8.5 %, although this will largely depend on
      combined efforts in four main emitting countries (France, Germany,
      Spain and the United Kingdom).
    - The use of Kyoto's flexible mechanisms by governments could
      contribute an additional 2.2 percentage points reduction
    - Absorbing carbon dioxide through enhanced carbon sinks (e.g. improved
      forest management) will contribute with an additional 1 percentage
      point reduction.
    - Purchase of emission allowances and credits by EU ETS
      operators is expected to deliver a further 1.4 percentage point
      reduction.

Emission reductions may be furthered by economic recession

Five EU-15 Member States (France, Germany, Greece, Sweden and the United Kingdom) have already reduced domestic emissions below their targets. Only Austria expects to fall short of its commitment under current conditions and will have to intensify its efforts to reduce emissions in non-ETS sectors.

All other Member States and EEA member countries with emissions targets under the Kyoto Protocol anticipate that they will meet their commitments.

Member States' projections have started to take into account the recent economic downturn but the report finds that GHG emissions may still be overestimated in the short term. As such, the recession could bring about further cuts in emissions.

Links:

- Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe 2009 http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2009_9

    - Policies and measures database
http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/pam
    - Emission country profiles
http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/ghg-country-profiles
    - Greenhouse gas data viewer
http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/PivotApp/pivot.aspx?pivotid=475

- European Union Emissions Trading Scheme data viewer http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/PivotApp/pivot.aspx?pivotid=473

- European Commission: Greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/gge_progress.htm

ENGLISH: http://www.eea.europa.eu/pressroom/newsreleases/ non-industrial-emissions-key-for-meeting-kyoto-targets

DANSK: http://www.eea.europa.eu/da/pressroom/newsreleases/ ikke-industrielle-udledninger-afgorende-for-opfyldelse-af-kyoto-malene

DEUTSCH: http://www.eea.europa.eu/de/pressroom/newsreleases/ nichtindustrielle-emissionen-2013-der-schlussel-fur-die-einhaltung- der-kioto-ziele

ESPAÑOL: http://www.eea.europa.eu/es/pressroom/newsreleases/ las-emisiones-no-industriales-son-clave-para-alcanzar-los-objetivos-de-kyoto

FRANÇAIS: http://www.eea.europa.eu/fr/pressroom/newsreleases/ le-role-cle-des-emissions-non-industrielles-pour-atteindre-les- objectifs-de-kyoto

ITALIANO: http://www.eea.europa.eu/it/pressroom/newsreleases/ le-emissioni-non-industriali-sono-fondamentali-per-il-conseguimento -degli-obiettivi-di-kyoto

POLSKI: http://www.eea.europa.eu/pl/pressroom/newsreleases/ pozaprzemys142owe-emisje-kluczem-do-osiagniecia-celow-z-kioto

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    For media enquiries only

    Ã’scar Romero i Sanchez
    Press officer
    Phone: +45-3336-7207
    Mobile: +45-2368-3671
    press@eea.europa.eu

    Gülçin Karadeniz
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    Phone: +45-3336-7172
    Mobile: +45-2368-3653
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SOURCE European Environment Agency

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