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The European Union remains well on track to achieve its Kyoto Protocol target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions despite a 2.4% emissions increase in 2010, according to first estimates by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The 2010 increase follows a 7 % drop in 2009, largely due to the economic recession and the growth of renewable energy generation. According to the estimates, the EU‐15 is likely not only to meet its 8% emission reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol, but even to overachieve it… (More on www.eurelectric.org in Daily News – Password needed)
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On 8 March the European Commission adopted the ‘Road map for building a competitive low‐carbon Europe by 2050′. The roadmap identifies the optimal way for the EU to domestically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Though not legally binding, the roadmap sets interim targets for 2030 (‐40%) and 2040 (‐60%), while the 2020 target could be overshot by meeting the current 20% energy efficiency target.
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On 8 March the European Commission is scheduled to publish a communication paving the way for a low‐carbon economy in 2050. A leaked draft indicates that, in order to be on track with the overall EU objective to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 in the range of 80 to 95% compared to 1990 levels, a cost‐effective and gradual transition would require a 40% domestic reduction of GHG emissions compared to 1990 as a milestone for 2030, and 80% for 2050. Major reductions would come from the power sector, ranging between 54% to 68% by 2030 and a massive 93% to 99% by 2050 compared to 1990.
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On 21 January the EU Climate Change Committee voted in favour of the European Commission’s proposal to ban from use in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) emission offset credits from certain projects which destroy industrial gases, namely trifluoromethane (HFC‐23) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from adipic acid production. The ban will apply as of 1 May 2013, contrary to the Commission proposal to introduce the ban on 1 January 2013. However, a Commission press release, issued on the same day before the vote had taken place and indicating the wrong date, created a 10% spike in the price of CERs for 2013 delivery. The Commission did not feel the need to apologise for the inconvenience.
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On 25 November, just ahead of the COP16 UNFCCC negotiations, the European Commission presented a proposal to ban, as of 1 January 2013, the use of industrial gas project credits from Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects for compliance in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The proposal will be discussed by member states right after the UNFCCC meeting, on 15 December.
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- Commission draft regulation on certain restrictions applicable to the use of international credits from projects involving industrial gases [22 KB]
- Impact asssessment on certain restrictions applicable to the use of international credits from projects involving industrial gase [182 KB]
- MEMO/10/614: Statement by Connie Hedegaard on the Commission’s proposal for quality restrictions on the use of credits from industrial gas projects
- MEMO/10/615: Questions & Answers on Emissions Trading: Use restrictions for certain industrial gas credits as of 2013
- Information on linking the EU ETS to other Emissions Trading Systems and incentives for international credits
- MEMO/10/387: Statement by Commissioner Connie Hedegaard (25 August 2010)
- Public consultation (end date: 25 November 2010)
Meeting on 28-29 October, the European Council endorsed the conclusions of the Environment Council held in Luxembourg earlier this month, where European environment ministers prepared for the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will take place in Cancún (Mexico) from 29 November to 10 December 2010. One of the key issues on the table in Luxembourg was the discussion on whether the EU should adopt a more ambitious, unilateral reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
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On 15 March the EU Environment Council adopted formal conclusions on the follow-up to the Copenhagen climate conference (COP15). Ministers stressed the importance of properly implementing the so-called “Copenhagen Accord” – signed among a representative group of 29 Heads of State, maintaining the EU’s leading role in the run-up to Cancún, and the crucial importance of carbon markets for achieving cost-efficient mitigation measures.
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On 9 March the European Commission presented, before the European Parliament, its first official document on the follow-up of the international climate change negotiations in Copenhagen last December. Next to analysing the current state of play, the document addresses a range of open issues, such as the evolution of the international carbon market. New actions are also proposed aimed at implementing the so-called “Copenhagen Accord” and making the EU “the most climate friendly region in the world”.
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At the General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting on 22 February in Brussels, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to coordinate the climate actions of several other EU Minister formations in order to integrate climate change considerations into all EU policies and thus improve the EU’s climate strategy. The Foreign Ministers are to prepare a summary report of the work of the different EU Minister formations at their next meeting on 22 March, the results of which are then to feed into the upcoming summit of EU leaders planned for 25-26 March – whose main two topics will be the EU’s post-Copenhagen climate strategy and the EU’s next ten-year economic plan ‘Europe 2020’.
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The European Parliament adopted on 10 February a resolution “on the outcome of the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change” intended to feed into an informal meeting of EU government heads on 11 February, at which the implications of the Copenhagen Accord signed in December were originally on the agenda. Parliament wants to see strong EU leadership, underpinned by a unilateral move to reduce EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2020, binding energy efficiency targets, plus support for climate mitigation and adaptation measures in the next EU budget.
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