Brussels - The European Commission, has decided to open, and in other cases to continue, infringement proceedings against member states for failing to provide important information that can support the European Union's efforts to fight climate change.
The Commission decided to take Luxembourg to the European Court of Justice for not providing sufficient information on its policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and on its projected future greenhouse gas emissions.
Seven member states will receive warnings for not forwarding technical information related to their emission targets, while another eight member states are being sent first warnings for failing to submit national allocation plans under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme(ETS), that is needed for establishing their permitted emission level in tonnes under the Kyoto Protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol and the European Union burden-sharing agreement fixed the percentage by which each member state's greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced or is allowed to increase between the base year and the 200!-2012 period.
The countries are Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.
The European Union new member states that joined in May 2004 are not obliged to reach the eight percent Kyoto target but are still expected to submit national allocation plans.
Countries also risk censure if their plans do not conform to guidelines laid down by the European Commission.
The Commission wants its system to be an example to the world and therefore it sees it of importance to secure domestic compliance.
The Emissions Trading Scheme(ETS) was put in place in 2005 in order to put a ceiling on the total emissions by industrial energy users and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
This is the European Union's main tool for achieving the 2012 targets under the Kyoto protocol.
Norway, which is not a member of the European Union, is in talks in regard to joining the scheme.
Israel Rafalovich
Please also see:
Global Commons Institute http://www.gci.org.uk
The Insurance Industry: Environmental Dangers May Soon Be Uninsurable, by Christiane Martens
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout3.php&id=13&blz=1
The Commission decided to take Luxembourg to the European Court of Justice for not providing sufficient information on its policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and on its projected future greenhouse gas emissions.
Seven member states will receive warnings for not forwarding technical information related to their emission targets, while another eight member states are being sent first warnings for failing to submit national allocation plans under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme(ETS), that is needed for establishing their permitted emission level in tonnes under the Kyoto Protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol and the European Union burden-sharing agreement fixed the percentage by which each member state's greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced or is allowed to increase between the base year and the 200!-2012 period.
The countries are Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.
The European Union new member states that joined in May 2004 are not obliged to reach the eight percent Kyoto target but are still expected to submit national allocation plans.
Countries also risk censure if their plans do not conform to guidelines laid down by the European Commission.
The Commission wants its system to be an example to the world and therefore it sees it of importance to secure domestic compliance.
The Emissions Trading Scheme(ETS) was put in place in 2005 in order to put a ceiling on the total emissions by industrial energy users and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
This is the European Union's main tool for achieving the 2012 targets under the Kyoto protocol.
Norway, which is not a member of the European Union, is in talks in regard to joining the scheme.
Israel Rafalovich
Please also see:
Global Commons Institute http://www.gci.org.uk
The Insurance Industry: Environmental Dangers May Soon Be Uninsurable, by Christiane Martens
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout3.php&id=13&blz=1