The French Government submitted a revised draft of its 2^nd National Allocation Plan to the European Commission. The new draft sets a total amount of allowances to be allocated annually during the second ETS trading period (2008-2012) of 132,8 Mt CO₂e (excluding the N₂O opt-in).
See news item of 29 November 2006 in this section and also CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 98 (to be published around 19 January 2007 ).

The European Commission published its Assigned Amount Report, as required under Decision 280/2004/EC concerning a mechanism for monitoring EU greenhouse gas emissions. The report, which will be submitted to the Climate Convention secretariat, sets the "assigned amount" for the EU-15 (19.7 billion tCO₂e) which corresponds to the EU emissions reduction target of -8% for 2008-2012.

The European Commission published a proposal for a directive aimed at incorporating the aviation sector into the EU Emissions Trading System, set up by Directive 2003/87/EC.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 160 p.I.207, n° 156 p.I.132 and n° 162 (to be published in mid-April 2007).

At the EU Environment Council's meeting, Environment Ministers of the EU-25 Member States adopted conclusions on the 12^th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Convention (COP-12, Nairobi , November 2006).

At the European Council meeting, EU Heads of State and Government agreed to hold an integrated debate at the 2007 Spring European Council (8-9 March) on climate change and energy policies.

The European Parliament (EP) adopted a (non-binding) resolution on the EU Biomass and Biofuels Strategies. This resolution is the EP's response to the EU Biomass Action Plan and the Biofuels Strategy presented by the European Commission respectively on 7 December 2005 and 8 February 2006.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 158 p.I.243 and p.I.271.

The Commission adopted a decision determining the respective emission amounts assigned to the EU and each of its Member States for the 2008-2012 commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol.

The European Parliament adopted a (non-binding) resolution on the European Commission's Green Paper setting out a European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy , published on 8 March 2006 . In its resolution, the EP emphasises among other things that the EU must adopt a binding CO₂ emissions reduction target for 2020 and an indicative one for 2050 .
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 90 p.3.

The Paris Air Quality Monitoring Network (AIRPARIF) presented the preliminary results of an assessment of the impact of the road improvement works carried out between 2002 and 2006 by the Paris municipal authorities on air quality in the French capital. The assessment presents the trends observed between 2002 and 2006 of NOx emissions from road traffic and ambient air concentrations of NO₂.

Following the remarks by the European Commission during the meeting between the French Environment Minister and the EU Environment Commissioner on 29 November 2006, the French Government decided to launch a new public consultation on a revised version of the National Allocation Plan for the 2^nd trading period (2008-2012). It will run until 22 December 2006. The total quantity of allowances to be allocated is now 132.8 Mt CO₂e (compared with 161.17 Mt CO₂e indicated in the first version submitted to the Commission on 15 September 2006 ).
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 95 p.1.
For further information  : www.consultationpubliquepnaq.com/fr/index.php

The European Parliament (EP), meeting in plenary, approved the proposal for a regulation to tighten emission limit values for cars and light utility vehicles (Euro 5 and 6 standards). The vote is based on a compromise package agreed upon during informal negotiations with EU Council representatives, following the EP Environment Committee's vote on the proposal on 13 September 2006 . Final agreement between the Council and the EP was thus reached after the first reading of the text. The Council is now to formally adopt the regulation at its meeting on 18 December 2006 .
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 95 p.2 and n° 98 (to be published mid-January 2007)

The price of CO₂ allowances for the 1^st phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) (2005-2007) fell to a new low of €6.88. Hitherto, the lowest price reached was 9.25€, on 12 May 2006 ( source : Point Carbon ).
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 92 p.3 .

Following a debate, the European Parliament, meeting in plenary, approved in 2^nd reading two codecision reports and eight consultation reports on the proposed decision for the EU 7^th Framework Programme (FP) for research, technological development and demonstration activities for the period 2007-2013. The 7^th FP should thus be fully operational at the start of 2007. Out of a total budget of € 50.5 bn, € 2.3 bn (4.5%) will be devoted to energy and € 1.9 bn (3.8%) to the environment (including climate change). The EU Council is expected to formally accept the deal in the next few days.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 155 p.I.131.

The European Commission approved 10 National Allocation Plans (NAPs) for the second trading period 2008-2012 under Directive 2003/87/EC, on condition that technical changes are made : Germany , Greece , Ireland , Lithuania , Latvia , Luxembourg , Malta , United Kingdom , Slovakia , Sweden ). Once the changes have been made, the NAPs will become automatically acceptable without requiring a second assessment by the Commission.
Under this decision, the total quantity of allowances allocated for these countries is 860,1 Mt CO₂, of which 52.7% for Germany and 28.6% for the UK . On average, the Commission has demanded a 7% cut in CO₂ emissions allocated compared to emissions in 2005 declared by the 10 Member States concerned and to the number of allowances they proposed for the 2008-2012 period.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 98 ( to be published in mid-January 2007 )

Following the meeting in Brussels between the French Environment Minister and the EU Environment Commissioner on 27 November 2006 , France must make additional efforts on her draft 2^nd phase National Allocation Plan (NAP) that was submitted to the Commission on 5 September 2006 . The Commission was due to approve the French 2^nd phase NAP along with the 10 others ( see other news item from same day ) but accepted to defer its final decision in order to give France time to present an amended version more in line with the Commission's demands. France must notify her amended 2 nd phase NAP by the end of 2006.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 95 p.1.

Decision 2006/803/EC of 23 November 2006 was published in the EU Official Journal (L 329). It amends Decision 2005/381/ECsetting out a questionnaire for reporting by Member States on the application of Directive 2003/87/EC (EU-ETS).
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 161 (to be published in late December 2006) and n° 155 p.I.101.

The European Pollutant Emissions Register (EPER), launched in February 2004, was updated to include data from the year 2004. For the first time, the data also cover industrial installations located in the 10 new Member States.

At the EU Energy Council, EU Energy Ministers adopted conclusions in response to the European Commission's Action Plan on Energy Efficiency, presented on 19 October 2006 .
See news item in this section dated 19 October 2006 and CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 161 (to be published in late December 2006).

The French Environment Minister presented a communication on the state of international climate negotiations. The Minister also announced that an environment conference is to be held in Paris in February 2007.

The 12^th Conference of the Parties (COP-12) to the UN Climate Change Convention and the 2^nd Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 2) , taking place in Nairobi ( Kenya ), ended . Several decisions were adopted (review of the Kyoto Protocol, Compliance Committee,…). The ad hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG) held its 2^nd session from 6-14 November at the end of which a detailed work programme was adopted, laying down the way forward to reach agreement on a new set of commitments. The AWG also adopted a key position by recognising the need to cut global CO₂ emissions by half. However, no date for achieving this was set.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 97 ( to be published in early December 2006 ) and CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 161 (to be published in late December 2006).

Publication, in the EU OJ, of Decision n° 2006/780/EC of 13 November 2006 on avoiding double counting of GHG emission reductions under the EU Trading Scheme for project activities under the Kyoto Protocol.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 161 (to be published in late December 2006).

A Charter for the Development of the superbioethanol E 85 was signed by representatives of the French car manufacturers, fuel distributors and the bioethanol production industry. This follows the report prepared by the working group Flex-Fuel 2010, submitted to the Ministers of Economy/Finance and Agriculture on 26 September 2006.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 96 p.2.

At a meeting of the Interministerial Committee for Sustainable Development, two key policy documents were adopted :
- the 2006 update of the National Climate Plan 2004-2012 (originally published on 22 July 2004 )
- the National Sustainable Development Strategy (SNDD, originally published on 3 June 2003 ).
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 97 (to be published in early December 2006).

As part of the upcoming review of theEU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), the European Commission published a communication on the way in which it functions in light of the experience acquired since it was launched on 1 January 2005. Prepared under article 30 of Directive 2003/87/CE, the communication sets out four broad categories of issues on which the review will focus : scope of the scheme, further harmonisation and increased predictability, robust compliance and enforcement and third country involvement.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 97 (to be published in early December 2006)

The European Commission confirmed its intention to propose Euro 6 standards for cars and light utility vehicles (LUVs). This stage would set significantly lower limit values for NOx emissions from diesel cars and LUVs. This decision comes following pressure from a large majority of Member States and the European Parliament's Environment Committee for Euro 6 standards to be adopted together with Euro 5 standards. On 2 October 2006, the European Commission presented an additional impact assessment on Euro 6 emission limit values for cars and LUVs.

12^th Conference of the Parties (COP-12) to the UN Climate Change Convention, in Nairobi ( Kenya ) and the 2^nd Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 2) . The event is expected to bring together some 5 000 experts (government delegates, business leaders, NGOs, scientists and academics). A "Ministeral segment" is planned for the 15-17 November.

The French Institute for the Environment (IFEN) published its 5^th State of the Environment Report in France (The Environment in France 2006) . The report includes several relevant chapters concerning air pollution (Households ; Air ; Climate Change ; Industry, energy production and construction ; Transport,…).

A pilot project, the CarbonLimited Project, was launched by the UK independent charity Royal Society for Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (RSA). The aim of the project is to investigate the potential of personal carbon allowances as a means of encouraging individual citizens to take greater personal responsibility for their carbon emissions.
See News in Brief item of 19 July 2006 .

The inaugural meeting of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council on Environmental Protection was held in Helsinki (Finland) to define the agenda for future cooperation. An agreement was signed, initiating a new era of intensified cooperation on the subject. Seven new joint working groups focusing on specific issues were set up, including one on climate change (which held its first meeting on 11 October 2006 ) and one on clean production and pollution prevention.

Publication in the French Official Journal of the Ministerial Order of 25 July 2006 amending, for the sixth time, the Ministerial Order of 25 February 2005 establishing the list of facilities to which greenhouse gas emission allowances have been allocated, and the number of allowances allocated.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) published updated Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) for five pollutants: SO₂, NO₂, ozone, PM₁₀ and PM_2,5 . The AQGs were originally defined in 1987, and then updated for the first time in 1997. The latest AQGs are based on the results of a worldwide consultation involving more than 80 leading scientists and on a review by WHO experts of thousands of recent scientific studies from all regions of the world.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 96 (to be published in early November 2006)

Publication in the French Official Journal of the Ministerial Order of 26 September 2006 establishing the breakdown by energy of the national energy savings target for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2009 , under Decree n° 2006-600 of 23 May 2006.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 159 p.I.33.

The French Environment Minister presented her Ministry's draft 2007 budget : €915,8   million (i.e. 0.34% of the State's overall draft 2007 budget) , up 2.2% on the 2006 budget. Of the total, €133 million is set aside for the programme "Risk prevention and pollution control", including €63.9 million for technological risk prevention and pollution control (classified installations, improving air quality, etc.).
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 96 (to be published in early November 2006)

The EuropeanParliament (EP), meeting in plenary, approved, in return for several amendments, a draft report, prepared by Holger Krahmer on the proposal for a directive on the quality of ambient air and clean air for Europe (COM(2005) 447 final). The EP also approved a second own-initiative EP report on the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution (the strategy was published on 21 September 2005 , COM(2005) 446 final). This vote comes shortly before the Environment Council meeting of 23 October 2006 at which Environment Ministers will seek to reach political agreement on the draft directive.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 158 p.I.163 and n° 156 p.I.345.

Former Formula 1 racing driver Alain Prost, chairman of a working group set up on 7 June 2006 to examine ways of developing the Flex-fuel sector by 2010 in France, presented his conclusions to the French Ministers of Finance and Agriculture. The Minister of Finance entrusted Prost with the task of preparing an Action Plan on the issue.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 93 p.2.

The EU Council of Ministers reached a common position on the draft decision establishing the 7^th EU Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration for the period 2007-2013 (7 th PCRD).
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 155 p.I.131.

The French Association of Companies to Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect (AERES), a federation established on 27 September 2002 bringing together 33 companies and four trade bodies covering 11 activity sectors, presented its interim results for 2005 under the voluntary agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissionsduring the period 2005-2007.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 96 (to be published in early November 2006).

The French Government forwarded the draft National Allocation Plan (NAP) for the 2^nd trading period (2008-2012) to the European Commission.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 95 (to be published in early October 2006).

The European Parliament's Environment Committee approved a draft report, prepared by Matthias Groote (rapporteur) on the proposal for a regulation tightening car and utility vehicle emission standards (Euro 5), presented by the European Commission on 21 December 2005 (COM(2005) 683 final). The report will be submitted to the European Parliament for approval in plenary (1^st reading) on 24 October 2006.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 158 p.I.189.

A letter to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, signed by nine former EU Environment Ministers (including France's Corinne Lepage), was published in the British daily newspaper The Times. In the letter, the nine Ministers, who, in 1996, set the EU target of 120 g/km CO₂ average emissions for new cars sold in the EU by 2010 at the latest, urge the President of the Commission to ensure that the carmakers reach this target. The former Ministers emphasise that "serious and legally-binding fuel-efficiency standards" should be adopted at EU level.

The 1^st General Assembly of the Technology Platform on Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants took place in Brussels. The meeting brought together industry representatives, EU and national government officials, university researchers and NGOs. The Platform was set up by DG Research on 1 December 2005 .
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaries n° 157 p.IV.55 and CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 95 (to be published in early October 2006).

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) announced that nine more multinational companies have joined the Energy Efficiency in Buildings project, launched on 29 March 2006. The new membres include French multinationals EDF and Gaz de France.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 159 p.IV.5.

The European Commission launched the 2^nd phase of the EU "You control climate change" public awareness campaign launched on 29 May 2006 (see news item on that date), specifically targeting schools. The European Commission is making available a specially developed range of information tools and materials on climate change for use by teachers and students across the EU. Schoolchildren are also being invited to make a personal pledge to combat climate change. In line with the main messages of the awareness campaign, they are encouraged to make small changes to their daily behaviour that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A variety of tools are available for use in classroom activities, offering guidance, background information and assignments to illustrate how individuals can play an important role in combating climate change. The campaign will be supported by TV, press and internet advertising. See the website : www.climatechange.eu.com

The European Parliament, in plenary, adopted a report prepared by the MEP Karin Riis-Jorgensen on the proposal for a directive on the taxation of cars. The report advocates establishing a link between the level of road tax and vehicle fuel efficiency and pollution levels. As this proposal concerns taxation, the European Parliament merely has a consultative role (consultation procedure and not codecision procedure).
COM(2005) 261 final. See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 156p.I.245.

At an international conference on environmental epidemiology and exposure in Paris, a group of scientists published a petition calling for stricter EU legislation on air pollution than the proposed directive (COM(2005) 447) on ambient air quality and clean air for Europe , currently under discussion. The release of this petition comes ahead of the European Parliament's vote on the text, planned for 26 September 2006.

The European Commission published its 6^th annual assessment of the implementation of the EU Strategy to reduce CO₂ emissions from new cars sold in the EU, covering the year 2004.
COM(2006) 463 final. See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 160 (to be published in October 2006).

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) jointly published a scientific assessment of ozone depletion 2006. The report was prepared by the Scientific Assessment panel of the Montreal Protocol. Over 250 internationally renowned scientists wrote the report.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 95 (to be published in early October 2006).

The European Commission launched an on-line public consultation on the promotion of heating and cooling from renewable energy sources. Stakeholders are invited to fill in the questionnaire and the results obtained will feed into the Commission's preparatory work to draft a legislative proposal on the subject. The EU Environment Commissioner announced on 14 February 2006 that the Commission would present a proposal by the end of 2006. The closing date for replying to the questionnaire is 6 October 2006.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 158 p.I.281.
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/consultation/heating_cooling_en.htm

The European Commission launched an on-line public consultation on the EU Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and on the conclusions of an external consultancy study (Identification, assessment and prioritisation of EU measures to reduce releases of unintentionally produced/released persistent organic pollutants), submitted on 25 July 2006. Stakeholders are invited to give their views and comments which will be taken into account in the final Implementation Plan. The closing date for replying to the questionnaire is 10 October 2006.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pops/consult_en.htm

Publication in the EU OJ of Council Regulation (EC) n° 1195/2006 of 18 July 2006 amending Annex IV of Regulation (EC) n° 850/2004 on persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The new Regulation sets new EU concentration limit values for 14 POPs, including dioxins and furans (PCDD and PCDF) in waste.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 151 p.I.183 et n° 160 (to be published mid-October 2006).

The European Commission formally adopted, in the form of a decision, five Best Available Technologies reference documents (BREFs) (under the IPPC Directive 96/61/EC), including one on waste incineration and one on surface treatment of metals and plastics.

UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, an