EU will meet Kyoto commitment

The European Commission’s latest report on the continent’s carbon emissions shows that the European Union is on track to meet its carbon reduction commitments agreed to in the Kyoto Protocol.

Projections by the EU indicate that its 15 original member states could go even further than the target of an 8% reduction in carbon emissions compared to 1990.

Just three of the EU-15 - Denmark, Italy and Spain - are behind in reducing their emissions.

However, the strong performance of other countries, including France, Greece, Sweden and the UK, is enough to counter these extra emissions.

Whilst the strongest performers have already achieved their targets, eight states, including Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal, are on track to meet Kyoto targets in the near future.

Some of the decrease is being made possible by emissions reduction projects outside of Europe that are being funded by the EU.

Reforestation and domestic carbon cutting policies are also contributing to the reductions.

The EU’s twelve new member states who joined in 2004 and 2007 have different levels of commitment compared to the rest of the EU.

Ten of the twelve countries have individual targets set by the Kyoto Protocol, whilst Cyprus and Malta have no emissions commitment

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the reported figures are ‘good news’ for Europe and the world because they show Kyoto is working.