Kyoto targets
Time is running out...
The EU-15 has a Kyoto target to cut greehouse gas emissions by 8% from base-year levels (1990 for CO2, methane and nitrous oxide) by 2012. Within this overall target, each EU-15 Member State has a differentiated reduction target, some should reduce emissions while others are allowed a limited increase.
The last available progress report is the report of the European Environment Agency in May 2007 giving the last available figures: the emission levels of 2005. According to this report the EU-15 emissions in 2005 reached a level 2% below the base year, meaning a further 6 points of reduction have to be achieved in the remaining 7 years until 2012.
The best performers until 2005 were the UK with a target of -12,5% and reached -15,7% in 2005, Germany which has a target of -21% and reached -18,7% in 2005, Sweden with a target of + 4% and reached -7,4%. Among the worst performers are Spain with a target at +15% and was in 2005 at + 52,3%, Italy which has to reach -6,5% and was in 2005 at +12,1%, Austria with a target at -13% and an emission level in 2005 at +18,1%.
All the countries behind the target path have to quickly implement strong reduction measures if they want to meet their targets!
See the detail of GHG trends and targets (by EEA) (PDF)
