EU on track for climate goal, despite Spain, Italy

By Pete Harrison

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Warm weather in 2007 helped the European Union toward its target of cutting global warming gases under the U.N. Kyoto Protocol for fighting climate change, but Spain, Italy and Ireland remained way off track.

Soaring transport emissions also offset many of the advances made by the 27-nation bloc, EU data showed on Friday, confirming a Reuters story last month.

In the 15 EU nations that have signed up to the Kyoto Protocol, emissions were 5 percent below 1990 levels in 2007, compared to a target of cutting by 8 percent across the 2008-12 period.

"The recent emission reductions among the EU-15 give us the confidence that we will successfully reach our Kyoto target," said European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas.

But Spain was 52.6 percent over its Kyoto base year, well beyond its allowed increase of 15 percent. Italy increased emissions by 6.9 percent over its base year, compared to a target of cutting by nearly the same amount.

And Ireland grew emissions by 24.5 percent, ahead of allowed growth of 13 percent. Luxembourg also overshot.

"If they do not comply, they will have to face the sanctions," said Dimas. "The Kyoto Protocol has sanctions, and in the EU they can be obliged to pay penalties."

"Although the 2007 reduction in EU-15 reductions was partly due to favorable weather conditions in some member states, the downward emissions trend over the last three years indicates that the pro-active climate policies... are now starting to pay off," he added.