Norway decries EU 'protectionism' on carbon dioxide quotas
OSLO, June 27 (AFP) Jun 27, 2007
http://www.terradaily.com/2007/070627151522.gkkp7rhw.html
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday accused the
European Union of "protectionism" for limiting the amount of offset
carbon dioxide emission quotas that can be bought from developing
countries.
"The EU wants most of the offset quota purchases to be made within the
EU," Stoltenberg told the Norwegian daily Aftenposten, adding that the
policy qualified as "protectionism".
Norway last week unveiled what it called the "most ambitious" plan in
the world to combat climate change, detailing its goal of reducing
emissions of greenhouse gases by 30 percent by 2020 and becoming
"carbon neutral" by 2050.
Under the plan, between half and two-thirds of the reductions will be
made on Norwegian territory, with the remainder of the cuts
compensated for with so-called "offsets", or investments in Kyoto
Protocol-style projects that reduce pollution in other countries.
But under an EU directive that is to enter into force in January 2008,
Brussels plans to cap at 10 percent the share of greenhouse gas
reductions that a country can achieve by buying offset quotas abroad.
Norway is not a member of the European Union but as a member of the
European Economic Area is subject to numerous EU directives, including
those on climate policy.
Stoltenberg said earlier this week that Oslo planned to ask the EU for
an exemption to the directive.
"We have been clear since we began work on our climate policy that
Norway should be allowed to introduce measures to limit emissions in
developing countries," he said.
"We think that would give greater reductions in emissions, it would
help curb poverty and it would also make it easier to get countries
like Brazil and India on board an international climate deal," he
said.
"I don't think the EU has thought through the (offset) cap very well,"
he added.
Among the measures included in Norway's plan to become carbon neutral
are a ban on oil-burning stoves and a pledge to increase biofuel use
by seven percent before 2010.
Also up for consideration are a quota system for the transport
industry, subsidies for green energy providers, a reforestation
programme, tolls for city drivers, and a ban on throwing away
recyclable goods.
Norway -- the world's third-largest exporter of oil and natural gas,
both fossil fuels deemed to be among the main causes of global warming
-- already covers almost all of its electricity needs with "clean
energy" from hydropower.
--
There may come a time when the CO2 police will wander the earth telling
the poor and the dispossed how many dung chips they can put on their
cook fires. -- Captain Compassion.
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
Celibacy in healthy human beings is a form of
insanity. -- Captain Compassion
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMcharter.net
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