Yahoo News 29 May 09;
PARIS (AFP) – Europe's emissions of greenhouse-gas emissions fell in 2007 for the third year running as warmer weather cut into consumption of oil, coal and gas to heat homes, the European Environment Agency (EAA) said on Friday.
Domestic emissions of six greenhouse gases by the 27-nation European Union (EU) fell by 1.2 percent, or the equivalent of 59 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), in 2007 over 2006, the Copenhagen-based agency said.
The EU-27 emitted 9.3 percent less gas than in 1990, the base year for the Kyoto Protocol.
The 15 older members of the EU saw a year-on-year decrease in emissions of 1.6 percent.
Under Kyoto, the EU-15 signed up to an overall reduction of eight percent according to a timeframe of 2008-2012.
By the end of 2007, the Fifteen were 5.0 percent below the 1990 benchmark, the EAA said. The big laggards are Spain, Denmark, Ireland, Austria and Finland.
These figures do not take into account "forest sinks," by which Kyoto signatures can include the carbon-absorbing capacity of woodlands in their emissions targets.
In a press release, EAA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade said billions of euros (dollars) earmarked to ease the economic crisis in Europe would have a beneficial spin-off in carbon emissions.
The next step is agreement at UN talks in Copenhagen this year that will deepen commitments beyond 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol's provisions expire, McGlade said.
"The economic stimulus packages that governments are currently adopting represent a crucial opportunity to address the climate crisis and the financial crisis simultaneously," she said.
"A strong Copenhagen agreement later this year would drive forward investments vital to our future prosperity."
