Commission update on proposals for meeting the Kyoto targets
The European Commission has adopted a communication on climate change which will serve as the Commission's input to the forthcoming Cologne European Council on 4 and 5 June 1999. The communication outlines the Commission's recommendations for European Union (EU) action to curb current trends and achieve the reduction in emissions set by the Kyoto Protocol by the end of the commitment period, i.e. 2008 to 2012. The communication gives an overview of progress at EU level on proposals for common and coordinated policies and measures. It cites further work on implementing policies and measures across all policy sectors as areas of the utmost importance. The communication calls for all sectors to contribute to the reduction of emissions. It identifies the areas where action is most needed as transport, energy, industry and agriculture, and highlights the need for private individuals and households to contribute to efforts. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in December 1997, representing a landmark agreement for international climate policy. However, the Commission sees the adoption of the Protocol as only a first step: for emission targets to become legally binding, it says, the Protocol needs to enter into force and its provisions be faithfully implemented.