Press release
Published: 07 Oct 2011
The European Union remains well on track
to achieve its
Kyoto Protocol target for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions despite a 2.4 % emissions
increase in 2010, according to first estimates
by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The 2010 increase follows a 7 % drop in
2009, largely due to the economic recession
and growth of renewable energy generation.
The latest analysis
of greenhouse gas trends in the EU was published
by the EEA today in three reports which
together analyse emissions levels since
11000 and look forward to the EU's greenhouse
gas emission reduction target for 2020 and
beyond. They also cover progress towards
Kyoto Protocol targets, early estimates
for 2010 emissions levels and an analysis
of drivers of emissions since 11000. Overall,
EU emissions declined by 15.5 %.
EU-15 emissions were 10.7 % below base year
levels, still well below its collective
8 % reduction target for the 2008–2012 period.
However, of the 15 EU Member States with
a common commitment under the Kyoto Protocol
(the 'EU-15'), Austria, Italy and Luxembourg
were still lagging behind their Kyoto Protocol
targets at the end of 2010.
Looking ahead to 2020, EU Member States
will have to implement planned measures
to achieve the Union’s unilateral 20 % reduction
commitment, itself a precursor to the much
deeper emission cuts needed in the long
run to build a low-carbon economy.
"Many different policies have played
an active role in bringing down greenhouse
gas emissions", Professor Jacqueline
McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said. "Alongside
renewable energy or energy efficiency, efforts
to reduce water pollution from agriculture
also led to emission reductions. This experience
shows we can reduce emissions further if
we consider the climate impacts of various
policies more systematically."
Key findings
First estimates for 2010 show EU greenhouse
gas emissions increased by 2.4 % compared
to 2009 (with a margin of error of +/- 0.3
%), due to the return to economic growth
in many countries and a colder winter leading
to an increased heating demand. However,
the increase in emissions was contained
by a move from coal to natural gas and the
sustained strong growth in renewable energy
generation.
In the EU-15, emissions were 10.7 % below
base year levels (11000 in most cases),
which is well beyond the collective 8 %
reduction target. Countries which are not
on track towards their target (Austria,
Italy and Luxembourg) should make more efforts
to ensure compliance, either by further
reducing emissions or by relying more on
the Kyoto Protocol's flexible mechanisms.
EEA member and cooperating countries that
are not part of the EU and agreed to a Kyoto
target were on track by the end of 2009,
apart from Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
The latter has already decided to increase
its use of flexible mechanisms to comply
with its target.
Measures in sectors not covered by the EU
ETS, for example in the transport, residential
or waste sectors, will be of particular
importance for meeting national targets
for 2020 set under the EU's 2009 climate
and energy package.
EEA's trend analysis shows that greenhouse
gas emissions have been strongly influenced
by economic development in the past two
decades. However, recent trends are also
showing signs of the positive impacts of
EU policies on its emission trends, according
to the EEA analysis.
+ More
From efficient water
use to quitting fossil fuels – survey shows
different approaches to resource efficiency
across Europe
Document Actions
Published: 11 Oct 2011
Resource efficiency is a policy priority
for Europe. However, across the region there
are many different approaches to ‘doing
more with less’, as shown by a survey of
countries’ policies, carried out by the
European Environment Agency (EEA).
In coming years, societies will have to
confront a huge challenge. While global
population and economic production continue
to grow, the resources supporting this upward
spiral are finite. The United Nations (UN)
recently noted that resource use will triple
by 2050 if humans continue to use resources
with the same degree of efficiency as we
do currently.
The European Commission’s recent Resource
Efficiency Roadmap states that while “demand
for food, feed and fibre may increase by
70 % by 2050, 60 % of the world’s major
ecosystems that help produce these resources
have already been degraded or are used unsustainably.”
Such unchecked resource use will increase
environmental destruction and inequality;
and ultimately lead to the disappearance
of the natural and mineral resources which
support modern societies.
To address this problem, countries across
Europe have been working on strategies and
policies to become more resource-efficient.
When responding to the survey, countries
cited several reasons for attempting to
become more resource efficient, including
concerns about environmental degradation,
economic reasons or shortages of a critical
resource such as water.
"Transforming Europe into a sustainable
economy will require concerted action at
all policy levels,” Janez Potocnik, European
Commissioner for the Environment, said.
“Member States have an essential role in
getting resource efficiency measures across
to businesses and citizens. This survey
shows that we are not starting from scratch
and illustrates how this transition can
be done in so many ways to match different
national contexts."
Some of the initiatives described by respondents
include:
Germany has targets to double the productivity
of abiotic raw materials and energy by 2020.
Denmark aims to be fossil fuel-free by 2050,
and proposes using 40 % of animal manure
for green energy by 2020. In the building
sector, Denmark stipulates that all new
buildings will use 75 % less energy than
in 2009.
Finland has a comprehensive plan to use
natural resources ‘more intelligently’ and
intends to increase energy efficiency by
20 % within a decade. The Nordic country
also states that all public buildings that
are new, under renovation or leased must
reach exacting passive standards by 2015.
Sweden aspires to recover at least 60 %
of phosphorus compounds from wastewater
for use on productive land by 2015.
Hungary plans to reduce annual generation
of waste by 20 %.
Austria has a target to cut final energy
consumption by 16 % by 2016.
Ireland has a programme which promotes mutually
beneficial partnerships between businesses,
building a network which encourages companies
to reuse each other’s surplus products,
by-products and reusable items and share
services, space and logistics.
Croatia considers the
Adriatic sea, coast and islands as resources
of strategic importance for sustainable
development
Portugal’s construction and demolition waste
legislation obliges owners, works contractors
and municipalities to properly manage the
waste produced during construction and demolition.
Latvia intends to become EU leader in preserving,
increasing and sustainably using natural
capital.
A total of 31 countries from across Europe
responded to the survey. There is no single
accepted definition of resource efficiency,
so answers showed the huge variety of different
approaches. However, this diverse approach
may be appropriate, as every country has
different resources, economic situations
and needs.
The EU thematic strategy on the sustainable
use of natural resources defines natural
resources as “raw materials such as minerals,
biomass and biological resources; environmental
media such as air, water and soil; flow
resources such as wind, geothermal, tidal
and solar energy; and space (land area).”
For most countries, resource efficiency
was seen as part of other strategies, including
strategies related to sustainable development,
environment, raw materials, climate change
and economic reform. The sectors of energy
and waste were the two most common areas
for resource efficiency policies.
Nonetheless, the survey showed that Europe
still has a long way to go if it is to make
comprehensive plans for resource efficiency.
According to the results, only a few countries
have policies addressing the more fundamental
issue of consumption, instead attempting
to improve technical efficiency.
