‘US could join Kyoto after 2012’

By Emily Smith

Date: 16/02/06

A year after the Kyoto Protocol on climate change became law, the European Commission believes the US can be persuaded to commit itself to cutting carbon emissions within a decade.

Thursday 16 February marks the first anniversary of the entry into force of Kyoto, a breakthrough which was achieved when more than half the world's countries completed ratification. The US still refuses to ratify the treaty and remains outside its remit.

But a Commission spokesman said the EU had "absolutely not given up on the US. We are convinced we can bring them on board for the period after 2012...We believe they will accept a firm commitment to reduce CO2 emissions [at that time]."

The Commission's environment department was particularly upbeat following an agreement by Kyoto signatories to negotiate new emission reduction targets when the existing deal expires in 2012.

But big challenges remain for EU climate- change policy over the next 12 months.

First and foremost, all 25 member states are scheduled to submit their own national CO2 reduction plans for 2008-2012 to the Commission by June. The Commission then has until 31 December to approve or reject the plans.

Europe's central CO2-reduction project, the market-based emissions trading scheme (ETS), is based on carbon quotas allocated under the national plans. Second-round allocations should be smaller than those allowed from 2005-2008.

Most member states missed a 2004 deadline for submitting the first set of plans. Emission quotas for Greece and Italy were approved almost six months after the ETS came into force in January 2005.

Most observers say that it is still too early to judge whether or not emissions trading works. But Commission guidelines sent to member states ahead of the second round deadline are an attempt to iron out difficulties encountered so far - such as differing national definitions of the installations covered by emissions trading.

The Commission has also promised to propose legislation this year bringing the aviation industry into Europe's emissions trading scheme.

It is not yet clear whether aviation would be part of the ETS from 2008 or 2012. The airline industry has warned that imposing CO2 reduction quotas on flights could send the cost of travel tickets soaring.

Non-governmental organisations say that climate change talks in Europe this year must not lose sight of the bigger picture. In particular, a green paper due this March on a possible EU common energy policy has environmentalists worrying about Kyoto targets.

"Increasing energy efficiency must be the central pillar of the green paper," said Jan Kowalzig from Friends of the Earth, a conservation group, adding that this did not seem to be the case at the moment, judging by existing drafts and discussions.

But without political commitment to energy efficiency, as well as to tough renewable energy targets, Kowalzig fears Kyoto could slip out of reach. "The trend over the last three years is to rising emissions," he warned.

Article takes a look at the European Commission's activities to achieve European targets under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, one year after its entry into force in February 2005. The Commission shows itself positive about the participation of the United States in a post-2012 regime after the expiry of the Protocol.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Environment: Climate change http://ec.europa.eu/comm/environment/climat/home_en.htm

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