EU issues climate change proposals
The European Union has unveiled new proposals to develop its future negotiating position when first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change ends in 2012. Malta will also be expected to abide by any new agreement. A spokesman for...
The European Union has unveiled new proposals to develop its future negotiating position when first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change ends in 2012.
Malta will also be expected to abide by any new agreement.
A spokesman for the European Environment Agency (EEA) said Malta had no emissions reduction target until now because it did not form part of the Kyoto Protocol signed in 1997. For the time being, only the "old" EU 15 member states have a joint commitment under Kyoto.
The EEA spokesman added that now that Malta had joined the EU, it will be part of any EU agreement on post-2012 action to combat climate change.
The Kyoto Protocol is a pact agreed to by governments at a 1997 United Nations conference in Kyoto, Japan, to reduce by 5.2 per cent of 1990 levels the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by developed countries in the five-year period 2008-2012. A total of 141 nations have ratified the pact, according to UN data.
EU Environment Commissioner Stravos Dimas said that Europe is to lead by example in the fight against climate change ahead of new international negotiations to combat global warming. He said that "fighting climate change is not a matter of choice but a matter of necessity".
Among the proposals for the EU's post-2012 strategy is that an attempt should be made to broaden international participation in reducing emissions. Mr Dimas wants to identify incentives to tempt other major emitting nations and rapidly emerging economies to join in tackling climate change.
The United States pulled out of the original Kyoto discussions but the EU is hopeful that developed nations such as Australia and emerging economies, especially China and India, can be brought on board.
The proposals also target marine transport and aviation which were excluded from the Brussels' emissions trading scheme launched in January. A fresh look at how to halt global deforestation is also included.
EU leaders will discuss the Commission proposals at their mid-term Lisbon summit in March.