The European Commission has called on Malta and eight other European Union (EU) member states to allocate on average 7% fewer permits than they had proposed in the five years through 2012, in a bid to cap carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The announcement came as the Commission finalized allocations for ten EU member countries under the second phase of its EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which begins in 2008.
Malta was found to have the lowest rate of CO2 emissions, however it was told to reduce the amount from 3.0 tons to 2.1 tons.
Out of ten countries, the Commission told nine governments to initiate harsher measures to cap emissions beyond 2007 so that the trading regime provides for an incentive to control emissions, reported Earthtimes. The countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia and Sweden account for an estimated 42 per cent of the CO2 allowances in the EU. Only the United Kingdom has been told that it is able to avoid a cut.
EU's Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the decisions convey a message that Europe is fully committed to achieving the Kyoto target and making the Emissions Trading Scheme a success.
See also:
Malta yet to submit carbon dioxide allocation plans
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 5, 2006, 09:06 CET
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