One World... Allocating emissions

What is the National Allocation Plan?
This National Allocation Plan (NAP) for Malta is prepared to fulfil obligations under Directive 2003/87/EC. This directive establishes an emissions trading scheme (ETS) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the European Union. All member states prepared a first NAP to cover emissions trading to be undertaken in the EU for the three-year period from January 2005 to December 2007. They are now required to prepare a second NAP for the five-year period from January 2008 to December 2012.

What is emissions trading in GHGs?
The burning of fuels in industry and through other sources in the country produce greenhouse gasses. In the meeting at Kyoto in 1997, during which an international protocol was drawn up, it was agreed that these harmful gasses (emissions) be reduced. The EU undertook to cut its overall greenhouse gas emissions by eight per cent of 1990 levels over the period 2008-2012.

In 2002, an agreement was reached by the then EU-15 member states which allocated specific reduction targets to individual member states. Respective emission levels were set for each member state. If one country exceeds its quota it may buy, or trade, emission quotas from another country which would be producing less emissions than its prescribed quota.