On Wednesday, the European commission demanded from some EU counties, including Germany, to cut carbon credit permits for 2008-2012, under its European Trading Scheme (ETS), after over-supplying emission rights. The ETS aims to reduce greenhouse gases by 8 percent by 2012 as it promised under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change. The scheme, established last year and ending in 2007, aims to reduce carbon emissions by providing a market-based trading system. It is based on limiting the total amount of CO2 emissions, but can offer control over reductions flexibly and at a low-cost. It is designed to put caps on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by heavily polluting factories across Europe. But in 2006, the governments of some EU countries gave away free carbon pollution permits that exceeded the amount of pollution that was released -- which the European environment commission has decided to put a stop to. Germany was the most generous, with France and Poland also handing out carbon credits faster than pollution can be emitted. Only a few countries -- such as Britain and Ireland -- distributed allowances that fairly matched the needs of big companies. EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas criticized several European countries, including Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia and Sweden, for giving away too many pollution allowances that they hold in reserve for building new factories.
The ETS aims to reduce greenhouse gases by 8 percent by 2012 as it promised under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change. The scheme, established last year and ending in 2007, aims to reduce carbon emissions by providing a market-based trading system. It is based on limiting the total amount of CO2 emissions, but can offer control over reductions flexibly and at a low-cost.
It is designed to put caps on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by heavily polluting factories across Europe. But in 2006, the governments of some EU countries gave away free carbon pollution permits that exceeded the amount of pollution that was released -- which the European environment commission has decided to put a stop to.
Germany was the most generous, with France and Poland also handing out carbon credits faster than pollution can be emitted. Only a few countries -- such as Britain and Ireland -- distributed allowances that fairly matched the needs of big companies.
EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas criticized several European countries, including Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia and Sweden, for giving away too many pollution allowances that they hold in reserve for building new factories.
The EU has set tough carbon limits under the European Trading Scheme's second phase, to the consternation of some of the 10 states involved. To make the scheme effective in tackling climate change, the EU has cut member states' carbon permits by 7% on average from 2008-2012. Germany, a major polluter, said the stricter limits were unacceptable and would push electricity prices up. Critics have accused nations of making carbon allowance levels too high. The European Trading Scheme (ETS) aims to cut emissions by 8% of 1990 levels. 'Level playing field' "Today's decisions send a strong signal that Europe is fully committed to achieving the Kyoto target and making the ETS a success," said EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas. This view was echoed by Michael Grubb, head economist of the UK's Carbon Trust: "They have done a lot to create a level playing field."
To make the scheme effective in tackling climate change, the EU has cut member states' carbon permits by 7% on average from 2008-2012.
Germany, a major polluter, said the stricter limits were unacceptable and would push electricity prices up.
Critics have accused nations of making carbon allowance levels too high.
The European Trading Scheme (ETS) aims to cut emissions by 8% of 1990 levels.
'Level playing field'
"Today's decisions send a strong signal that Europe is fully committed to achieving the Kyoto target and making the ETS a success," said EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas.
This view was echoed by Michael Grubb, head economist of the UK's Carbon Trust: "They have done a lot to create a level playing field."
· Including airlines 'will push up cost of flights' · EC says current system is not a level playing field The EU is heading for a legal showdown with the US and Asia over plans by the European commission to bring all international flights to and from Europe into its carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS), its main weapon for fighting climate change. Senior US sources warned yesterday the proposal to extend the ETS from heavy industry and power plants to civil aviation within the EU breached the 1947 Chicago convention on international air travel and would not survive legal challenges. But Stavros Dimas, EU environment commissioner, insisted his plan, due to be adopted by the full commission on December 12, was compatible with the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. He said it was being drawn up after consulting senior lawyers and all challenges would fail. Philippe Varin, chief executive of steel group Corus, claimed the scheme needed to be tightened and widened if it was to be effective.
The EU is heading for a legal showdown with the US and Asia over plans by the European commission to bring all international flights to and from Europe into its carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS), its main weapon for fighting climate change.
Senior US sources warned yesterday the proposal to extend the ETS from heavy industry and power plants to civil aviation within the EU breached the 1947 Chicago convention on international air travel and would not survive legal challenges.
But Stavros Dimas, EU environment commissioner, insisted his plan, due to be adopted by the full commission on December 12, was compatible with the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. He said it was being drawn up after consulting senior lawyers and all challenges would fail.
Philippe Varin, chief executive of steel group Corus, claimed the scheme needed to be tightened and widened if it was to be effective.
But somehow it seems perfectly reasonable for the owners to complain if the serfs get uppity. keep to the Fen Causeway
Germany has reacted with irritation to a European Commission decision to slash its allowances to emit greenhouse gasses, calling the move "adventurous" and terming Brussels' handling of the issue as "the opposite of transparency." EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas on Wednesday (29 November) told Germany and eight other member states that their national pollution-reducing plans for the are too weak, demanding from Berlin that it reduce its carbon emissions by six percent to 453.1 million tonnes per year. But FT Deutschland reports that Germany - the biggest polluter in the EU - immediately called Brussels' move into question with German environment minister Sigmar Gabriel calling the decision an "adventurous procedure."
EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas on Wednesday (29 November) told Germany and eight other member states that their national pollution-reducing plans for the are too weak, demanding from Berlin that it reduce its carbon emissions by six percent to 453.1 million tonnes per year.
But FT Deutschland reports that Germany - the biggest polluter in the EU - immediately called Brussels' move into question with German environment minister Sigmar Gabriel calling the decision an "adventurous procedure."
