CITEPA - News

The European Commission launched an on-line public consultation on the impacts of indirect land use change on greenhouse emissions of biofuels and ways of minimising those impacts (under the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, article 19.6 ). Stakeholders are requested to submit their answers to the questions set out in the consultation document by 31 October 2010.
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/consultations/2010_10_31_iluc_and_biofuels_en.htm

The French Junior Environment Minister presented an assessment of air quality in France in 2009 and the main trends observed over the period 2000-2009. She also presented details on the reinforced air quality policy, as set out under the national environmental policy reform (Grenelle de l'Environnement) and the 2^nd National Health and Environment Plan (adopted on 10 July 2009), particularly the Plan to reduce particulate matter emissions defining national and local measures.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 127 p.2.

4^th meeting of the BASIC group of countries (Brazil, South Africa and India) on climate change . The aim of the meeting was to discuss climate strategy in the run-up to the 16^th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Convention in Mexico in December 2010. A joint statement was issued at the close of the meeting .
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 136 p.4.

The first Clean Energy Ministerial (meeting) was held in Washington DC bringing together Ministers from 24 governments worldwide. Building on the Technology Action Plans released by the Major Economies Forum Global Partnership in December 2009, 11 initiatives were launched to accelerate the global transition to clean energy .

A joint article by the French, German and UK Environment Ministers, published simultaneously in Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeiting and the Financial Times, called for the EU to move to a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 (without waiting for other industrial countries, most notably the USA, Canada and Australia, to adopt comparable national targets).
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/EU_CC_article/EU_CC_article.aspx

Member States' representatives meeting in the Climate Change Committee (comitology procedure set up under the Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive 2003/87/EC) unanimously approved the European Commission's proposed Regulation definingrules for the auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances under the EU's ETS in the 3^rd trading period (from 2013 onwards).

At the Informal EU Environment Council in Ghent ( Belgium), Environment Ministers from the 27 Member States discussed the EU position in the run-up to the 16^th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Convention (to be held in Cancun, Mexico, 29 November-10 December 2010).

The National Environmental Policy ImplementingAct (n° 2010-788) of 12 July 2010 (known as Grenelle 2) was published in the French Official Journal. This follows the final vote on the text by the French Parliament on 30 June 2010.
See news item dated 30 June 2010 in this section.

The European Commission adopted a regulation approving the use of a tool enabling fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions to be calculated according to a simplified method. The tool was developed by the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) and is intended for use by small aircraft operators for greenhouse gas emissions monitoring and reporting purposes under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Under Directive 2003/87/EC as amended by Directive 2009/29/EC (article 9), the European Commission adopted a decision determining, for the first time, the total number of allowances (cap) for the EU- 27, as a whole, for the year 2013 in the EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme. The cap is set at 1 927 billion allowances (ie 1 927 billion teq CO₂). The Decision will shortly be published in the EU Official Journal.

See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 172 p.72.

The European Parliament, meeting in plenary, approved the agreement reached on 16 June 2010 between its representatives and those of the EU Council on the compromise text of the proposal for a directive on industrial emissions (recast of the IPPC Directive). The Council still has to formally approve the agreement.

See news item dated 16 June 2010 in this section.

New Zealand launched a national greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme, covering transport fuels, electricity and industry.

The revised Annex VI (regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships) of the International Convention for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships (known as MARPOL 73/78) entered into force.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 175 p.109.

Belgium takes over the EU Presidency until 31 December 2010. The Belgian Presidency comes at a time when this Member State is in the midst of political transition, with negotiations underway to form a new government.
The Belgian Presidency's website : http://www.eutrio.be/fr

7^th meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, in Rome. The three main issues on the agenda were financing climate protection measures; measuring, reporting and verification (MRV); and mitigation.

The lower house of the French Parliament (National Assembly) formally adopted the National Environmental Policy Implementing Bill (known as Grenelle 2). This final vote follows that of the upper house (Senate) on 29 June 2010.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 136 p.2.

At the close of their 4^th summit in Toronto ( Canada), Finance Ministers of the G20 group of countries released a declaration comprising 49 paragraphs, one of which dealt with the issue of climate change.

Summit of the eight largest industrial countries (G8 Group) in Muskoka, Canada. In a declaration comprising 43 paragraphs, the G8 Heads of State and Government devoted four to climate change. They largely repeated what they declared last year at their meeting in L'Aquila.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 172 p.135.

Policy debate organised on the initiative of the EU Energy Commissioner, Algirdas Semeta, with all the European Commissioners on the issue of the introduction of a carbon tax. This debate is part of the work on the revision of the EnergyTaxation Directive 2003/96/EC, a priority for Mr. Semeta.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 135 p.6.

Commission Decision 2010/345/EU of 8 June 2010 was published in the EU Official Journal. It amends Decision 2007/589/EC in order to add guidelines for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from CO₂ capture, transport and geological storage.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 172 p.82 (annexe I). See also CITEPA's previous quarterly report Etudes documentaires n° 164 p.I.199.

The French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) published a study on CO₂ emissions generated by the economy in France, including emissions from imports and exports of goods.

Directive 2010/31/EU of 19 May on the energy performance of buildings was published in the EU Official Journal (recast of Directive 2002/91/EC).
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 170 p.103.

Directive 2010/30/EU of 19 May on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the energy consumption by energy-related products was published in the EU Official Journal.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 125 p.3.

The European Council only devoted one paragraph to climate change in their conclusions, the issue having being overshadowed by the economic and financial crisis. EU Heads of State and Government took note of the Commission's analysis of possible options to move beyond a 20% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2020, and declared they would come back to the issue at their autumn meeting.

Under the interinstitutional trialogue procedure, the EU Council, the European Parliament (EP) and the Commission reached an agreement on the proposal for a directive on industrial emissions (recast of Directive 2008/1/EC on integrated pollution prevention and control, IPPC). The new directive still has to be formally adopted by the Council and the EP.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 136 pp.1 and 3.

At the EU Environment Council, Environment Ministers from the 27 Member States adopted conclusions on the communication published by the Commission on 26 May 2010 concerning an analysis of options for moving to a -30% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by 2020. The Ministers also discussed a progress report on the proposed regulation setting CO₂ emission standards for vans.
See news item dated 26 May 2010 in this section and CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 134 p.4.

The European Commission published two communications under the Renewable Fuels Directive (2009/28/EC) :

practical implementation of the EU biofuels sustainability scheme and counting rules for biofuels,
voluntary schemes and default values in the the EU biofuels sustainability scheme.

First session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC1) to prepare a global, legally binding instrument on mercury, in Stockholm ( Sweden).
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 123 p.4.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) released the 2008 figures for greenhouse gas emissions in the EU-27, as part of the Annual EU greenhouse gas inventory 1990-2008 and inventory report 2010, submitted to the UNFCCC. The report shows that emissions declined in 2008 for the fourth consecutive year : -2% compared to 2007 and -11,3% compared to 1990 (N.B. EU-15 : -6,9% in 2008 against reference year levels under the Kyoto Protocol).

At the EU Energy Council, Energy Ministers from the 27 Member States held an exchange of views on the approach to setting national energy efficiency targets. This work is linked to the European Commission's review of the 2006 EU Energy Efficiency Action Plan which was due to be published in 2009, but postponed until early 2011.
See CITEPA's quarterly reports Synthèses Document'Air n° 173 p.62 and Etudes documentaires n° 161 p.I.149.

10^th session of the Ad hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Climate Convention (AWG-LCA 10) and 12^th session of the Ad hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP 12) in Bonn ( Germany).

The Oslo Climate and Forest Conference bringing together some 50 heads of State and Government and other high-level representatives. An interim partnership was launched aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries via a funding mechanism known as REDD+. This event follows a first conference on deforestation and forest basins organised on France's initiative in Paris on 11 March 2010.
See news item dated 11 March 2010 in this section.

The European Commission published a communication presenting an analysis of options to move beyond a 20% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and assessing the risks of carbon leakage.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 137 (to be published in early July 2010).

The Federation of French Mayors of medium-sized Cities (FMVM) formally signed the Covenant of Mayors, an initiative launched in 2008 by the European Commission to encourage towns and cities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 170 p.155.

The European Commission published a communication setting out a strategy on future steps to improve biowaste management in the EU.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'Air n° 120 p.6.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Christiana Figueres as the new Secretary General of the Climate Convention Secretariat as from 1 July 2010. She will replace Yvo de Boer who announced his resignation on 18 February 2010. Ms. Figueres has been a member of the Costa Rican negotiating team since 1995 and was elected Vice-President of the Conference of the Parties in 2008-2009.

The EU Council published a preliminary report on the state of play on EU and Member States' fast-start finance to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change (in the 2010-2012 period).

The National Assembly (lower house of French Parliament) adopted in 1^st reading the National Environmental Policy Implementing Bill (known as Grenelle 2).

The Indian Environment Ministry published a report on greenhouse gas (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) emissions in India in 2007. It includes comparisons with 1994, which until now was the latest year for which official estimates were available.

The European Commission launched an on-line public consultation to take stock of the debate on energy policy with a view to preparing a new comprehensive Energy Strategy for Europe, early in 2011, for the period 2011-2020. Stakeholders are invited to submit their comments on the basis of a consultation document before 2 July 2010.
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/strategies/consultations/2010_07_02_energy_strategy_en.htm

The Canadian House of Commons (lower house of the Canadian Federal Parliament) adopted the Climate Change Accountability Bill (1^st reading) which sets a medium-term and a long term greenhouse gas emissions reduction target : -25% by 2020 and -80% by 2050 (1990 baseline).

The European Environment Agency published preliminary data on "with measure projections" for 2010 and emissions for 2008, as reported by Member States in December 2009, under the National Emissions Ceilings Directive (2001/81/EC). This concerns NOx, SO₂, NMVOC and NH₃ emissions.

At the Covenant of Mayors ceremony in Brussels, 500 mayors from towns and cities in Europe committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20% by 2020 through signing the Covenant. This brings the total number of signatory towns to more than 1 600 in 36 countries representing 120 million citizens.
Voir Synthèses Document'Air n° 170 p.155.

The European Parliament's Environment Committee approved a second-reading draft report, prepared by Holger Krahmer (rapporteur), on the proposed directive on industrial emissions (recast of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive). The report will be submitted to the European Parliament for approval in plenary in July 2010.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 133 p.4.

Environmental policy

The French National Assembly (lower house of Parliament) began examining the National Environmental Policy Implementing Bill (known as Grenelle 2). The debate is due to continue until 7 May 2010.
The lastest version of the Bill:
http://www.assemblée-nationale.fr/13/pdf/ta-commission/r2449-a0.pdf
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 129 p.5.

On the initiative of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, a meeting of Environment Ministers and other high-level representatives from 42 countries (industrialised countries, emerging economies and developing countries), and from the European Commission and the UNFCCC, was held as part of the so-called Petersberg Climate Dialogue.

Clean and energy efficient vehicles

The European Commission published an EU strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles setting out a policy framework, and including an action plan with concrete measures to be implemented by the Commission.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 174 p.143

3^rd meeting of the BASIC group of countries (Brazil, South Africa and India) on climate change. The aim of the meeting was to discuss climate strategy in the run-up to the 16^th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Convention in Mexico in December 2010. A joint statement was issued at the close of the meeting.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 132 p.4.

6^th meeting of the Major Economies Forum on energy and climate (MEF) in Washington. The discussions focused largely on fast-track funding of measures by developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 129 p.6.

Environmental taxation

In a press release, the French Environment and Transport Ministers announced that the road tax to be applied to lorries is to be postponed for a year. Due to be introduced in 2011 under the Environmental Policy Framework Act n° 2009-967 of 3 August 2009 (article 11.VI), the tax scheme will not be fully implemented over the whole of France until 2012, following a pilot scheme in the Alsace region.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 172 p.14.

Publication in the French Official Journal of the Ministerial Order of 1 April 2010 establishing the arrangements for reporting and verifying greenhouse gas emissions from installations entering the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as of 1 January 2013 (the start of the 3^rd trading period).

The EU Council adopted a position at 1^st reading on two proposals for directives presented on 13 November 2008 as part of the Commission's package on energy efficiency measures:

a recast of Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings,
a recast of Framework Directive 92/75/EEC on energy labelling of domestic appliances.

See CITEPA's quarterly report s Etudes documentaires n° 169 pp.I.97 et I.119 and Synthèses Document'Air n°170 p.103. See also CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 124 p.4 et n° 125 p.3.

The French Environment and Industry Ministers signed a Charter with 12 local authorities for the deployment of charging infrastructure for electric and hybrid vehicles.

9^th session of the Ad hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Climate Convention (AWG-LCA 9) and 11^th session of the Ad hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP 11) in Bonn ( Germany).
It was the first meetings of the two official negotiating tracks since Copenhagen.

The French Environment and Agriculture Ministries, the French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) and FranceAgriMer jointly published a study on life-cycle analyses applied to 1^st generation agrofuels used in France. This study completes the one published in October 2009.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 172 p.55.

The European Commission published the verified greenhouse gas emissions data for 2009 for most of the installations covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). At this stage, the data are unprocessed, incomplete and thus provisional. The Commission will publish an analysis of the resulting trends in May 2010.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission/pdf/AL_VE_2009_public_format.xls

The European Commission published its work programme for 2010. A number of legislative proposals and policy papers are planned in the fields of air pollution and climate.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 135 (to be published in early May 2010).

The Climate Convention Secretariat (UNFCCC) published the reports from the different meetings held as part of the Copenhagen Conference (7-19 December 2010), and especially the 15^th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP-15) and the 5^th Meeting of the Parties to the KyotoProtocol (COP/MOP-5). These two reports include the decisions adopted by the Parties in each case.
http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_15/items/5257.php

At the European Council, Heads of State and Government from the 27 Member States adopted conclusions on climate change, with the emphasis on refocusing EU efforts after Copenhagen.

Environmental taxation

The French Prime Minister, François Fillon announced at a meeting of MPs at the National Assembly (lower house of Parliament) that the planned national carbon tax should be European so as not to harm French companies. This means that the adoption of this headline measure, put forward as part of the reform of French environmental policy (Grenelle de l'Environnement), has been postponed until further notice.

Emissions from ships

60^th session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in London. Issues to be discussed include measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international maritime transport.

At the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), Ministers adopted conclusions on the funding of measures to mitigate, and adapt to, climate change.

Climate change and light commercial vehicles

At the EU Environment Council, Environment Ministers from the 27 Member States adopted conclusions on a post-Copenhagen international climate strategy. The Council also held its first debate on the proposal for a regulation setting CO₂ emission standards for light commercial vehicles (vans).
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 134 p.4 (to be published in early April 2010).

Climate change and forests

On the joint initiative of France and Norway, an internationalconference on deforestation and the major forest basins was held in Paris. 54 countries, representative of the major forest basins in the world (Africa, Latin America and Asia) and the main forest donor countries met to examine and implement theinternational mechanism to stop deforestation adopted at the Copenhagen Climate Conference in December 2009.

An independent review of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s processes and procedures was launched in order to further strengthen the quality of its reports. The review was requested by the United Nations and IPCC itself.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 134 (to be published in early April 2010).

Environment and health

The fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health was held in Parma, Italy under the aegis of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization. Issues discussed included the link between air pollution and human health.

The European Commission published a communication setting out the EU's vision of a post-Copenhagen international climate strategy aimed at reinvigorating global action.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 134 (to be published in early April 2010).

On the initiative of the Paris region and the NGO The Climate Group, representatives from more than 20 regions in the world met in Paris to prepare themselvesin advance of the 16^th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Convention to be held in December 2010. The meeting held under the aegis of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) brought together leaders from regions including Brittany, Paris and Rhône-Alpes for France, three Spanish regions three German regions, Scotland, Wales, Quebec, California, and the State of Para (Brazil).

Under Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of renewable energy (article 17), the Commission published a report on sustainability requirements for the use of solid and gaseous biomass sources in electricity, heating and cooling.
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 172 p.91.

Classified installations

The French Junior Environment Minister presented the 2009 assessment and priorities for 2010 for the Classified Installations Inspectorate.

The UNFCCC Secretariat announced that an additional round of formal negotiations on the post-2012 climate regime will be held in Bonn (Germany) on 9-11 April 2010, under the two existing parallel negotiating tracks (the two working groups AWG-LCA and AWG-KP).
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 131 p.3.

The EU General Affairs Council held an exchange of views on climate change and the follow-up to the Copenhagen Climate Conference, in preparation for the Spring European Council of 25-26 March 2010 at which EU Heads of State and Government will focus on the issue.

The US research centre World Resources Institute (WRI) published a preliminary analysis of climate finance pledges put forward by developed countries to assist developing countries in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The EU formally adopted its common position on theproposal for a directive on industrialemissions (recast of the IPPC directive). This follows the political agreement reached by the EU Environment Council on 25 June 2009.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 127 p.3.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the setting up of a high-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing.

Environmental policy

The French Environment Ministry published a progress report of measures implemented under the National Environmental Policy Reform (Grenelle de l’Environnement) in 2008 and 2009 by policy area (eg energy, buildings, transport).

At the informal EU Competitiveness Council, the Spanish Presidency presented Industry Ministers from the 27 Member States with a discussion paper on electric vehicles. The aim was to stimulate the debate with a view to adopting an EU strategy on the issue in May 2010.

The European Parliament (EP) elected the new European Commission by 488 votes to 137, with 72 abstentions. The vote took the form of a single ballot on the whole College of Commissioners, which consists of one Commissioner from each of the 27 EU Member States. Following the EP’s approval, the European Council formally appointed the new Commission for the period 10 February 2010 to 31 October 2014.

Environmental taxation

The French Environment Ministry launched a consultation open to all stakeholders on the carbon tax to be applied to the industrial sectors covered by the EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme. The consultation will be based on a consultation document setting out the main issues to be addressed.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 131 (pp.1-2).
See news items dated 20 January 2010 and 29 December 2009 in this section.
http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Document_concertation_contribution_carbone_cle7e1c95.pdf

The UK Department for Energy and Climate (DECC) published national greenhouse gas emissions data for 2008 . The results show a 1.9% fall compared to 2007 (excluding LULUCF). See headline data:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/climate_change/gg_emissions
/uk_emissions/ 2008_final/2008_final.aspx

The French Environment Minister presented the 2008 greenhouse gas emissions data for France, prepared for the Environment Ministry by CITEPA under the National Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory System (SNIEPA). More detailed results of the 2008 emissions data corresponding to the different formats of inventories published by CITEPA will be available in the next few months and put on line on CITEPA's website.
http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Bilan_GES_2008_cle5c8dc5.pdf
http://www.citepa.org/publications/Inventaires.htm
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 132 (pp.1-2), to be published around 10 February 2010.

By 1 February 2010, under the Copenhagen Accord (paragraphs 4 and 5), 56 Parties had submitted their national pledges to reduce and limit greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to the UNFCCC Secretariat :

quantified, economy-wide emission reduction targets, to be inserted in Appendix I (under paragraph 4) : EU27 + 9 Parties. See list and pledges: http://unfccc.int/ home/items/5264.php
nationally appropriate mitigation actions for developing countries (and particularly the emerging economies), to be inserted in Appendix II (under paragraph 5): 20. See list and pledges: http://unfccc.int/ home/items/5265.php

( source : UNFCCC ).

Deadline for Parties to submit their emission reduction commitments for 2020 under the Copenhagen Accord of 18 December 2009 (paragraphs 4 and 5): quantified economy-wide emission reduction targets for industrialised countries and nationally appropriate mitigation actions for developing countries, and particularly the emerging economies.

President Obama announced that the US Federal Government will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2020 (compared with 2008 levels). This target, adopted under US Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability of 5 October 2009 , aims to ensure that the Federal Government leads by example in building the clean energy economy.

Commission Regulation (EU) n° 82/2010 of 28 January 2010 was published in the EU Official Journal. It amends Commission Regulation (EC) n° 748/2009 establishing the list of aircraft operators required to take part in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as of 1 January 2012 (under Directive 2003/87/EC ( article 18b ), as amended by Directive 2008/101/EC). See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 172 p.115 and n° 170 pp.16-17.

The Environment Ministers of the BASIC group of four countries(Brazil, South Africa, India and China) met in New Delhi to discuss climate change with a view to coordinating their respective positions ahead of the 31 January 2010 deadline for non Annex I countries (emerging economies) that sign the Copenhagen Accord to submit their Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions. A joint declaration was published after the meeting.
See CITEPA's monthly newsletter C'est dans l'air n° 132 (February 2010), to be published around 10 février 2010.

Environmental taxation

The French Environment Minister presented a communication on the carbon tax at the weekly cabinet meeting. The paper sets out the different options envisaged by the Government for the new version of the scheme.
See news item dated 29 December 2009 in this section.

Informal EU Environment and Energy Councils. Subjects discussed included the follow-up of the results of the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

CO₂ emissions from cars

The European Commission published its latest report containing data for 2008 under the mechanism for monitoring CO₂ emissions from new cars in the EU.

Environmental taxation

The French President announced at a cabinet meeting that the carbon tax will enter into force on 1 July 2010 (and not 1 January 2010 , as originally planned) and that a new version of the scheme will be presented following consultations with all the stakeholders.
See news item dated 29 December 2009 in this section.

EU emissions trading scheme

Publication in the EU Official Journal of Commission Decision 2010/2/EC of 24 December 2009 determining a list of sectors and subsectors deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage. This new decision was adopted under the Emissions Trading Directive (2003/87/EC), as amended by Directive 2009/29/EC (article 10 bis).
See CITEPA's quarterly report Synthèses Document'Air n° 172 pp.76-77.