EU greenhouse emissions rise - EC responses 'inconsistent'
Fri 23 June 2006
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EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rose for the second year running in 2004, according to the latest official figures just released by the European Commission. Meanwhile, the latest UK figures show that UK GHG emissions were almost unchanged in 2005, while CO2 emissions rose by 0.3%.
European Union GHG emissions rose by 0.4%, and 0.3% in the old EU-15 according to the European Commission and European Environment Agency (EEA). They had increased by 1.5% the previous year.
In response to the news, the EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas was reported by ENDS as calling for a greater decoupling between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions.
Commissioner Dimas's statement appears to be at odds with the latest draft Common Transport Policy which does not refer to breaking the link between transport demand and economic growth. European transport/environment group, T&E says that the EC is being inconsistent because the de-coupling of transport from growth is an explicit aim of the EC's Sustainable Development Strategy.
Average EU-15 emissions are only 0.9% lower than in 1990, against the bloc’s Kyoto commitment to achieve -8% during 2008-12.
According to the EEA, the main reason for the overall emissions increase in 2004 was a 1.5% rise in CO2 output from road transport. Emissions of CO2 from the steel industry and oil refining were also up.
The DTI's Energy Sector Indicators 2006 report puts the UK's 2005 CO2 rise down mainly to an increased use of coal in power generation.
Related Links
EEA press release link
DTI - Energy Sector indicators; download
T&E statement on publication of EU transport strategy
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