EU executive approves Slovenia's emission allocation plan

An EC press release said the EC accepted the total number of emission allowances proposed by Slovenia -- equivalent to 8.3 million tones of CO2 -- since it is consistent with Slovenia's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol, its expected emissions and its potential to reduce emissions.

The figure is lower than the verified emissions of Slovenia in 2005, according to the EC.

The EU executive has implemented so-called Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), which ensures that greenhouse gas emissions from energy and industry sectors are cut at least cost to the economy, thus helping the EU and its Member States to meet their emission commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

"Slovenia has proposed a sound national allocation plan which we have accepted with few changes. The Slovenian government has clearly understood the need to ensure that the Emissions Trading Scheme remains a successful weapon for fighting climate change that others can emulate," EC Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas was quoted as saying by the press release.

Following the EC's decisions in November 2006 and January 2007, Slovenia's is the 13th national allocation plan (NAP) for the 2008- 2012 period to be assessed by the EC.

NAPs determine for each EU member state the "cap", or limit, on the total amount of CO2 that installations covered by the EU ETS can emit, and specify how many CO2 emission allowances each plant will receive.

"The commission will continue to assess all national plans in a consistent way and to create the scarcity in allowances that is essential for the scheme's success and for meeting Europe's Kyoto targets," Dimas said.