Press Release: Emissions trading: Commission adopts decision on Portugal’s national allocation plan for 2008-2012

The European Commission adopted its decision on Portugal's proposed national plan for allocating carbon dioxide (CO2) emission allowances for the second trading period of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) from 2008 to 2012. The cleared annual allocation is 34.8 million tonnes of CO2 allowances, 3.1 % less than Portugal had proposed. The Emissions Trading Scheme ensures that greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and industry sectors covered are cut at least cost to the economy, thus helping the EU and its Member States to meet their emission commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. Portugal's national allocation plan is the last to be assessed of the 25 member states that have been part of the EU ETS since its launch in 2005. Those for Bulgaria and Romania will be finalised shortly.