EU urges states to hurry up with CO2 emission targets

In a recently released EU report it was stated that the emissions in the EU-15 fell slightly between 2004 and 2005, by 0.8% to be exact. That makes it 1.5% in total since 1990. The EU-15 though, have ratified the Kyoto protocol, stating that they will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% until 2012. They even made an agreement to themselves, to cut emissions by 20% until 2020.

"It is very encouraging that we are cutting emissions while the European economy grows strongly," said EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas in a statement on Thursday (14 June). "But it is clear that many member states need to accelerate their efforts to limit emissions significantly if the EU is to meet its Kyoto target," he warned.

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"Several EU countries are still emitting more greenhouse gases than they did in 1990 or even increased their emissions from 2004 to 2005. The EU keeps on saying that it cares about climate change, but the overall data shows that this is not kicking yet," said Sonja Meister from Friends of the Earth. The remaining 12 member states, which became EU members after the UN agreement was signed, each have individual Kyoto targets.

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"We are very confident that we will be reaching our Kyoto target," Mr Dimas' spokeswoman Barbara Helfferich said on Thursday. "There is a positive trend and in addition, these figures do not show yet the significant input that the emission trading system will have," she said, adding that other measures such as targets for energy efficiency and renewable energy would help.

SustainaBee says: Well, it's nice to see that the EU-15 are decreasing emissions even though they're growing economically. Though efforts have to be pushed even stronger, but I am optimistic and see a chance that the EU-15 will make the Kyoto targets!