Greeny News

EU on track to achieve environmental objectives, despite the 2.4% increase in emissions in 2010, the European Environment Agency said

increased last year, but the EU remains on track to meet international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change , the European Environment Agency (EEA) said on Friday.

There was a 2.4% increase in emissions in 2010, which followed a 7% decline in 2009 due in large part by the recession and the growth of renewable energy in Europe, said agency.

The increase last year was due to a return to economic growth and a cold winter which boosted the use of heating fuels.

in 15 EU countries that have a common target under the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change, emissions fell by 10.7% over 1990, well before the reduction 8 % by 2008 to 2012.

But existing measures of the Member States will not be sufficient to achieve a target set unilaterally by the EU to reduce emissions by 20% in 2020.

EEA said his analysis showed emissions of greenhouse gases are strongly influenced by economic development over the past two decades, but recent trends show that the policies have an impact positive in the fight against climate change.

Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said. "Many policies have played an active role in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases