16/02/2005- The entry
into force of the Kyoto Protocol (See http://unfccc.int/2860.php)is
an important milestone in international actions
to combat climate change. It was welcomed
by governments and many other interested parties
around the world (See for example the European
Commission: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/187)The
EU believes climate change is a serious challenge
to mankind and likely to have significant
negative global environmental, economic and
social implications. According to the UNFCCC,
to avoid dangerous climate change, greenhouse
gas concentration levels should be stabilised
in future. To achieve stabilisation substantial
reductions in global emissions of greenhouse
gases are needed, according to the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. The emission reductions
to be delivered by the implementaton of the
Kyoto Protocol are an important first step.The
recent EEA report on greenhouse gas emission
trends and projections in Europe shows that
the pre-2004 EU Member States (EU-15) could
cut their total emissions to 7.7% below 11000
levels by 2010. Plans by six EU-15 Member
States to use credits from emissions-saving
projects in third countries through the Kyoto
Protocol's "flexible mechanisms"
would contribute a further reduction of around
1.1%, taking the total to 8.8%, sufficient
to achieve the EU-15 target.would contribute
a further reduction of around 1.1%, taking
the total to 8.8%, sufficient to achieve the
EU-15 target.would contribute a further reduction
of around 1.1%, taking the total to 8.8%,
sufficient to achieve the EU-15 target.
See full report http://reports.eea.eu.int/eea_report_2004_5/en
The European Commission adopted on 9 February
2005 a communication setting out future EU
policies on climate change, reaffirming the
EU's overall goal to keep human-induced global
temperature rise to within two degrees Celsius.
It includes a set of proposals designed to
structure the future negotiations of the EU
with its global partners over climate change
policies after 2012 when the first commitment
period under the Kyoto protocol ends.
The recent climate change conference under
UNFCCC, held in December 2004 in Buenos Aires,
addressed the need to prepare for and adapt
to the consequences of some inevitable climate
change, complementary to mitigation policies
aimed at reducing emissions. Such consequences
are expected even with significant emission
reductions over the coming decades, in both
developing and developed countries. A recent
EEA report shows current and projected climate
change and its impacts in Europe. Examples
are more frequent and more economically costly
floods, droughts and other extreme weather;
wetter conditions in northern Europe but drier
weather in the south that could threaten agriculture
in some areas; more frequent and more intense
heatwaves, posing a potentially lethal threat
to the elderly and frail; and, rising sea
levels for centuries to come. The report concludes
that also Europe needs adaptation strategies
to limit impacts of climate change.
