EU emissions drop for third consecutive year

EU greenhouse gas emissions fell for the third straight year in 2007, according to the latest inventory.

Greenhouse gas emissions in the 27-member bloc fell 1.2 per cent from 2006 to 2007, putting overall EU emissions 9.3 per cent below 1990 – the Kyoto protocol baseline year.

That represents a 59 million tonne drop in CO2 equivalent compared to 2006.

Countries in the EU-15, the original members of the bloc, are now 5 per cent below their Kyoto baseline.

The EU 15 has committed to reducing its emissions collectively by 8 per cent between 2008 and 2012 compared to 1990 levels. The EU 27 does not have a common Kyoto reduction target.

The inventory, compiled by the European Environment Agency, found that between 2006 and 2007, warmer weather and more expensive fuel drove a reduction in emissions.

It also found that the drop in emissions in the EU-27 since 2005 stemmed from a decline in the use of oil and gas in households and services.

Most of the decline came from lower fossil fuel use in German households, the report said.

The agency noted that those sectors are not covered by the EU emissions trading system (ETS).

Seventeen out of the 27 EU members reduced their greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 from the previous year.

Of the original 15 members, only Spain and Greece did not reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.