Re: EU losing ground in tries to meet Kyoto targets for greenhouse gas reductions

"Dr. Convection" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> From:
> http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031202/CPW/7664015
>
> Tuesday, December 2, 2003
> EU losing ground in tries to meet Kyoto targets for greenhouse gas
> reductions
<snip>
> According to the report, existing measures in the 15-nation bloc would
> result in only a 0.5 per cent reduction in emissions in 2010 from 1990
> levels. Under the Kyoto protocol, the EU pledged to reduce emissions by
> eight per cent.
>
> Additional initiatives planned so far are projected to bring another 6.7
per
> cent cut, for an overall decrease of about 7.2 per cent, it said.

Wow! almost a whole percentage behind target and only ten years to fix it!
This is like declaring that you business was doomed because you failed to
meet retail sales figures for the second day of operation!

Sounds like they are really doing quite well for this point ( which is still
a fair ways back of 2012 target date ) and need to look into improvements in
truck and car fuel efficiency. There is research on a new technology that
might help. Using plasma to generate hydrogen rich gases from small amounts
of fuel the device promises to deliver 20 tp 30% better fuel efficiency. And
that would certainly be enough to fix up the small 'gap'.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/news/fcvt_news_110503.shtml
Toward Increased Gasoline Engine Efficiency
In addition, the team is finding that the device could make gasoline engine
vehicles cleaner and more efficient, with a potentially significant impact
on oil consumption. They project that gasoline engine efficiency could be
increased by up to 30 percent through improved performance allowed by the
addition of hydrogen-rich gas

Note also that Europe is doing a HELLL of a lot better than the U.S which at
this point seeems to be too stupid to do anything. Their big 'do it youself'
plans have turned into a lot of hype and no mojo.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A83F816E-6007-43F9-9167-9E9B4E167C17.htm
European nations back Kyoto Protocol

Tuesday 02 December 2003, 2:40 Makka Time, 23:40 GMT
Two European countries have sprung to the defence of the United Nations'
ailing agreement on global warming.
The two countries, Italy and Hungary, on Monday warned that the deal had to
be followed by deeper cuts in greenhouse-gas pollution to avoid damaging the
world's climate.

"We would have liked to announce and welcome here all parties for the first
meeting of the Kyoto Protocol. Unfortunately, that is not possible," said
Italian Environment Minister Altero Matteoli.

He was opening a conference in the Italian city of Milan that delegates from
180 countries were expected to attend.

"We must reinforce global strategies for the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions and for adapting to climate change for the most vulnerable regions
of the planet," Matteoli said.