An Assessment of Kyoto and Emerging Issues for the 12th Conference of the Parties

Europe's Performance, California Dreaming, Trade Wars and Waiting for Godot

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In late October 2006 the European Commission issued a report, “Greenhouse Gas Emission Trends and Projections in Europe 2006”. This most-recent in a series, issued coincident with the annual Kyoto Protocol negotiations, revealed continued worsening of Europe’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile, and announced that the “EU must take immediate action on Kyoto targets”. This report is the best source for tracking Europe’s Kyoto progress, and provides critical insight into the ever-changing numbers and official assumptions underlying EU claims to be the “world leader” in addressing the issue of climate change. This Policy Note assesses its meaning.

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