EU policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Towards a European Climate Change Programme (ECCP)

Through this communication, the Commission wants to strengthen EU policy on reducing greenhouse gas in the context of the EU's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol after the 6th Conference of the Parties (COP6) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change due to take place in November 2000 in The Hague.

According to the Kyoto Protocol, EU should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% in the timeframe 2008 to 2012 as compared to 1990. The latest data shows that CO2 emissions are increasing rather than decreasing, and that the 8% reduction objective will not be met if no additional measures are taken. In response to this, the Commission has decided to present a list of policies and measures to reinforce the EU's strategy to reduce emissions across all sectors (Transport, Energy, Industry etc.).
To identify and develop a European Climate Change strategy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. To promote co-operation between all relevant stakeholders, such as the Commission, Members States, Industry, the NGO community.
The programme comprises 7 Common and Co-ordinated Policies and Measures:

. Energy supply:

_Further development of the internal electricity and gas market incorporating environmental considerations;
_Access to the grid of decentralized electricity production increasing the share of renewable energies;
_Increase the use of combine heat and power generation;
_Reduction of methane emissions in mining and extraction industries;
_CO2 capture and disposal in underground reservoirs;
_ Promotion of more efficient and cleaner fossil fuel conversion technologies;
_Energy efficiency in the electricity and gas supply industries.

. Industrial sector:

_ Improvement of energy efficiency standards for electrical equipment;
_ Improve of efficiency standards for industrial processes;
_ Improve energy efficiency limiting CO2 emissions (for boilers, construction products etc.);
_ Increase energy services for SMEs;
_ Development of an EC policy framework for fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6);
_ Development of an EC wide policy framework for emissions trading;
_ Development of a framework for voluntary agreements.

. Energy Consumption in the domestic and tertiary sector:

_ Public procurement of energy-efficient end-use technologies;
_ Energy audits and heating performance certificates;
_ Improvement of building/lighting performances;
_ Building design and infrastructure planning.

. Energy Consumption in the transport sector:

_ Transport pricing and economic instruments for aviation;
_ Fiscal framework as part of the strategy on 'CO2 and Cars';
_ Extension of the environmentally enhanced vehicle concept to passengers cars and light duty vehicles (improved emission and fuel standards, new technologies and fuels);
_ European campaign for more fuel-efficient driver-behaviour.

. Transport policy and infrastructure:

_ Revision of Transport policy (rail, road freight, modal-shift, maritime, aviation);
_ Green paper on Urban Transport addressing the growing concern about congestion (incl. pricing , fiscal measures, parking initiatives, improving public transport);
_ Sustainable mobility and intermodality;
_ Satellite assisted navigation systems (GALILEO).

. Waste:

_ Promotion of the biological treatment of the biodegradable waste;
_ Revision of the Sewage Sludge Directive 86/278/EEC;
- Packaging and packaging waste.

. Research:

_ Implementation of the 5th Framework Programme in particular the Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development Programme;
- Networking of EU, national and other RTD efforts for climate change.

. International co-operation:

_ Capacity building and technology transfer to developing countries through international cooperation.
The Commission is responsible for implementing the programme through a Steering Committee composed of all relevant Commission services. This will be responsible for the management and the co-ordination of the ECCP (policy approach and organization). The Steering Committee will also inform and exchange information with other stakeholders. Working groups will be created by the Steering Committee on specific problem areas.