Belgium failing to meet Kyoto targets

18 April 2006

BRUSSELS — Greater efforts are needed if Belgium is to meet its Kyoto Protocol commitment of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 7.5 percent.

Two reports from the National Climate Commission indicate that measures agreed on will fail to bring about the necessary cut in emissions, newspaper ‘De Morgen’ reported on Tuesday.

Federal Environment Minister Bruno Tobback confirmed the newspaper’s claims, stressing that additional measures were necessary.

“The reports indicate that we have already done a lot of work, but that this is insufficient to meet our commitment,” the Socialist SP.A minister said.

“We must therefore investigate how we can further reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.”

But Tobback is not in favour of the purchasing of ‘clean air’ or emission rights from abroad.

Subject: Belgian news