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Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol |
The European Union has committed itself to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to limit the negative impacts of man-made climate change. Under the Kyoto Portocol, the Union as a whole has taken on a target of minus 8% from 1990 levels by the period of 2008 to 2012. The unique political set-up of the Union divides its policy-making into EU and Member State level. In the field of climate policy, it is recognized that 'common and co-ordinated policies and measures' at Community level are necessary to fulfil, as the EC itself is a Party to the international climate treaty. However, these measures are a supplement to national climate policy. The countries are responsible for their relative share under the EU burden sharing agreement (BSA) and many of them have their own national climate targets. Domestic implementation remains a vital part of successful emission abatement.
The implementation strategy at EU level follows the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP). Member State policies are diverse. Some countries started elaborating climate plans more than ten years ago, others have only recently begun to systematically take on the challenge of reducing their GHGs. Assessing the implementation of the EU climate policy on the Member State level involves two main elements: planned and implemented policies and their results in terms of the actual emissions. Accordingly, these pages provide information on
This page will give you a brief overview of the current status of national climate strategies. It does not provide a detailed evaluation, but the relevant documents and contact details. Please refer to these resources for details.
| Austria | Belgium | Denmark | Finland |
| France | Germany | Greece | Ireland |
| Italy | Luxembourg | Netherlands | Portugal |
| Spain | Sweden | United Kingdom | others (Iceland, Norway ) |
Country/ Web links |
Status of national climate plan |
document download |
National NGO contact |
Web pages |
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| Austria |
National implementation plan to be finalised before COP7. |
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| Belgium |
The Belgian Kyoto climate plan will be publicised in early March 2002. |
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| Denmark |
DK finalised its latest national climate programme ("Climate 2012") in March 2000. DK has its own domestic reduction target: minus 20% of 1988 CO2 emissions by 2005. |
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| Finland |
National climate strategy was prepared between 1999-2001. |
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| France |
Climate strategy to counter expected emission rise submitted in 1999. Planned taxation was not implemented, instead a voluntary agreement with industry concluded. |
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| Germany |
Comprehensive Climate strategy (4th edition) published in October 2000. New CHP promotion deal with industry since then. Nuclear phase-out compromise finalised in 2001. Germany also has its own domestic target of minus 25% of 1990 CO2 emissions by 2005. It is also looking at a further target of minus 40% by 2020. |
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| Greece |
Elaboration of National Action Plan to achieve the Kyoto target, follow-up to "The Hellenic Action Plan for the Abatement of CO2 and other Greenhouse Gas Emissions", was meant to be completed in September 2001. |
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| Ireland |
Elaborated first climate plan in October 2000. | |||
| Italy |
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| Luxem-bourg |
Luxembourg was able to cut its (on a per capita basis comparably high) GHG emissions with the closure of a particular power plant. |
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| Nether-lands |
Comprehensive National Strategy in place. |
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| Portugal |
National Climate Change Strategy was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 30 June 2001. It lays the ground for the development of the National Climate Change Plan, to be developed until the end of 2001. |
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| Sweden |
Government bill on national climate change strategy will be launched in October 2001. As part of this new climate strategy, Sweden announced a domestic reduction target of minus 4% by 2010. |
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| Spain |
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| United Kingdom | Comprehensive Climate Change Plan including Emission Trading and Renewables obligation scheme. The UK also has its own domestic target of 20% in 1990 CO2 emissions by 2010 |
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| others |
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| Iceland |
Has been requesting exemptions from its Kyoto target due to the impact of single power plant projects. In early August, however, the Planning Agency rejected Karahnukar Hydro Power Project, on the grounds of the Environmental Impact Assessment. |
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| Malta |
Is not an Annex I country, but ratified the Kyoto protocol in autumn 2001. Its national communication under the UNFCCC reporting requirements is expected to be finalised in 2002. |
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| Norway | New Climate Plan submitted in June 2001- Statements have been made that Nw will not make use of sinks. Official declaration was expected for November. |
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For sources and other questions contact matthias(AT)climnet.org
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