Denmark's plan to offset transport emissions sparks EU row

(guardian-, 20 Oct 2014) Green champion’s push to funnel car emissions into the emissions trading system seen as attempt to bend rules.

A Danish bid to expand carbon offsetting to the transport sector has triggered uproar among NGOs and academics, with one new analysis saying it would devastate efforts to reign in fuel emissions.

Transport is responsible for a quarter of Europe’s CO2 pollution and, unlike most sectors, its contribution is rising fast – up 36% since 1990. About half of Europe’s transport emissions come from cars and the EU has ordered car-makers to slash their fuel emissions by 2021.

But the latest draft of the EU’s 2030 climate and energy package, due to be agreed later this week, suggests counting transport emissions within the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS). The document, seen by the Guardian, calls for concrete proposals allowing states to achieve their climate goals with “a new flexibility”.

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guardian-, 20 Oct 2014: Denmark's plan to offset transport emissions sparks EU row