Greenpeace projects ""Smoking Kills!" on the cooling tower of the coal energy plant Neurath, Grevenbroich, Germany. Greenpeace warns against the devastating consequences of allowing coal power plants to continue functioning in Europe
The report reveals that the three Governments are expecting
private households and the transport sector to make proportionally
bigger cuts in their emissions than the companies participating in
the ETS, who are responsible for 45% of all European CO2 emissions.
In the Netherlands, this will in effect cost Dutch taxpayers more
than 742 million Euros for the period between 1998 and 2011 (2). By
allocating an overly large proportion of their Kyoto budgets to the
ETS companies, these Governments will not only cost the climate
dear but also the European economy.
"Climate Change is the biggest threat to each and every country
on this planet. We only have a small window of opportunity to stop
it getting worse; these Governments are letting their people down
by blowing their chance to reduce CO2. They are in effect handing
their industries pollution permits and making their taxpayers and
consumers pay for them," said Steve Sawyer, Climate & Energy
Policy Campaigner, Greenpeace International.
The Netherlands, Germany and the U.K. also have a reserve
package of free CO2-credits to give to companies wishing to operate
new CO2-emitting installations such as coal-fired power plants. The
report shows that by allocating allowances to these new projects
for free the Governments are subsidizing unsustainable investments
and increasing the costs of achieving the Kyoto targets.
"This is the last chance for the ETS to realise its potential in
helping member states to meet their Kyoto Protocol targets. It is
also essential for putting the European economy on track for
realising the much deeper greenhouse gas emissions reductions,
which will be required in the post-2012 period," said Sawyer. "If
put to its intended use, the ETS can provide incentives for
modernising industry, making it more efficient and increasing
European competitiveness."
This week, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, who will
judge the NAP proposals after the deadline on June 30, stated in
the German newspaper, Handelsblatt, that all EU member states must
meet their Kyoto targets and that he would return the allocation
plans that failed to reflect these (3).
Greenpeace is urging all EU Governments to use the ETS
effectively, by adopting stricter NAPs and to resist from giving
polluters a free license to abuse the climate.
For the NAPs to be effective, Greenpeace demands the
following:
* All member states make bigger cuts in their total number of
credits - decreasing the CO2 budget for the ETS sector
* Governments should not give away CO2 credits for free but
should auction as many as possible within the restraints of the EU
Directive.
* New installations must pay the market price for their credits
instead of relying on subsidised credits from their Governments
Other contacts: Greenpeace Climate and Energy CampaignSteve Sawyer, Greenpeace International, +31 653 504 715Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace Netherlands, +31 653 623 818Karsten Smid, Greenpeace Germany, +49 40 30 618 388Authors are available for interviews please contactMhairi Dunlop, Greenpeace International Communications, +44 7801 212 960
VVPR info: Images of the Greenpeace actions that took place 13 June, 2006, highlighting EON and RWE's emissions from coal power plants, are available from the Greenpeace International Photo Desk +31 653 819 255 and the Greenpeace International Video Desk on +31 653 504 721
Notes: 1. The report, commissioned by Greenpeace International and written by is available on http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/increasing-the-ambition-of-eu 2. The Dutch Government had already reserved €742 million Euros to ensure the purchase of Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism credits. However, the Government announced in April 2006 that due to market price increases and delay in project delivery more funds are needed, which in effect the Dutch taxpayers will pay, letting the industry off the hook.http://rijksbegroting.minfin.nl/default.asp?CMS_ITEM=6B621CAE8AFA4F3F93AD1A074A965065X727X50991X61).3. Handelsblatt, 20 June, 2006 http://www.handelsblatt.com/Politik/International/pshb/fn/relhbi/sfn/buildhbi/cn/GoArt!200013,200051,1095720/SH/0/depot/0/index.html
Exp. contact date: 2006-07-03 00:00:00