Monitoring mechanism for CO2 and other greenhouse gases
The European Commission has published a proposal for a Council Decision aimed at updating the Community's monitoring mechanism for CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the light of progress made in meeting the stabilization targets. The Commission also proposes to extend the mechanism to other greenhouse gases. Under the Community monitoring mechanism, Member States are required to devise and implement national programmes for limiting anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This has been necessary in order to meet the Community's commitment, under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to stabilize CO2 emissions 1990 levels by the year 2000. The Commission's proposes to extend the mechanism so that emissions continue to be assessed after the year 2000. In addition, the monitoring mechanism will be adapted to include anthropogenic emissions of other greenhouse gases not covered by the Montreal Protocol. The aim of this is to ensure that efforts made in reducing CO2 emissions are not negated by increased emissions of other gases.