EURO NEWS
France suggests thresholds to
define sectors at risk of C02 leakage
T
he French eU presidency
has taken a step further
towards deciding which european
firms would get free carbon
trading allowances from 2013 by
proposing thresholds to define
industrial sectors at risk of carbon
leakage.
Under the French proposals,
Agriculture the most ‘at risk’ sectors would
ministers
be those whose carbon-related
costs increased by an amount
rubber stamp
greater than 5% of gross
value added, and whose 'trade the revised EU emission trading would take four weeks to collect
CLP rules
intensity' with non-EU countries scheme (ETS). extra data for a new graph. It is
was above 10%. The European commission understood that France based the
E
U aGrICUlTUrE The thresholds would be published a first version of the 5% figure for the cost increase
ministers have rubber- applied to a graph plotting graph in November. But it is threshold on an average EU
stamped a revision of the bloc’s carbon-induced cost increases not yet possible to apply the industry profit margin of 6%.
rules on the classification, against the level of exposure to thresholds because France’s The presidency also proposes
labelling and packaging (ClP) international trade, to create four definition of cost impact is a special provision to recognise
of chemical substances. categories of carbon leakage risk. different to the commission’s, the cement and lime sector,
The new rules Sectors in each category which is expressed in product which would face very high cost
will implement a new would qualify for a different price increases. increases under the new ETS but
internationally agreed scheme quantity of free allowances in The commission said it currently has no non-EU trade.
in the EU for a globally
harmonised system (GHS)
and complements the new
Rotterdam convention fails to include
reach chemical policy.
MEPs backed the revision
chrysotile on list of harmful substances
in September following
agreement on a compromise
P
arTIES To the Un they did agree to include Biocide The EU led calls for the two
text. The new rules will now rotterdam convention on Tributyltin (TBT) onto the PIC substances to be added to the
be published in the bloc’s trade in dangerous chemicals have list. The restrictions on TBT will rotterdam list during last week’s
official journal. again failed to include Chrysotile enter force in February. meeting. Environmentalists
According to the european asbestos onto a list of 39 harmful opposition to applying the expressed their “shock and
chemicals agency, a last- substances that cannot be exported rotterdam convention’s PIC distress” at the outcome. a final
minute rush to pre-register without the receiving country’s procedure to Endosulfan was decision has been postponed
chemicals under rEaCH has consent. led by India. India was also until the next meeting of the
eased. The online mechanism Governments meeting in one of several countries against parties to the convention in 2011.
was reported to be working rome in November also failed requiring prior informed consent Governments also failed
“extremely well” and “all to add pesticide, Endosulfan, to for exports of Chrysotile along to reach consensus on new
companies that wish to pre- the list of chemicals subject to with Mexico, Pakistan and the procedures for dealing with non-
register should be able to do prior informed consent (PIC). But Philippines. compliance under the convention.
so,” it said.
The European commission
EU approves compromise on CCS technology
has announced a public
consultation on a draft EU
report investigating the scope E
U GovErNMENTS have start of negotiations with MEPs of equilibrium” between their
reached a broad compromise to finalise the law. various positions.
for applying a risk assessment on a legislative proposal to It is reported that many The text confirms
methodology known as the develop carbon capture and countries would have liked governments’ opposition to
threshold of toxicological storage (CCS) technology. to see further changes to the an emission limit for large
concern (TTC) in the area of Senior diplomats have text, but diplomats agreed the power plants proposed by
chemicals and human health. approved an amended draft of version approved at the end of the parliament’s environment
the proposal as a basis for the october reflects the best “point committee earlier in october.
 SuStainable SolutionS December/January 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60