Kyoto Agreement: European Commission lauds agreement on greenhouse gas monitoring

Brief

October 23, 2003

The European Parliament voted on October 22, 2003 to approve a mechanism for monitoring emissions of greenhouse gases put forth by the European Council and Parliament. This landmark decision implements European Union commitments under the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 aimed at minimizing global warming by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause it.

The decision, introduced by the Commission in February, requires member States to monitor and report on greenhouse gas emissions in detail and to set up programs to reduce them. This gives the EU the necessary infrastructure to monitor progress, assess measurement efficiency and achieve reductions.