EU won't set post-2012 emissions goal now

The European Union will not set itself targets for lowering emissions of greenhouse gases after 2012 now as it focuses instead on bringing the United States and other nations into the climate change battle, a document showed.

The EU executive Commission, considered a powerhouse in the fight against global warming, encouraged energy efficiency and a clampdown on aviation and maritime pollution, spelling out future EU climate change policy, the document, obtained by Reuters, indicated.

But goals for emissions cuts after 2012, when the first period covered by the environmental treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol ends, will not yet be on the agenda while the EU lobbies developing countries and the United States to support a further global effort to halt rising temperatures.

"The reduction commitments that the EU would be willing to take under such a regime should depend on the level and type of participation of other major emitters," the document said. "Therefore, the Commission is not recommending the adoption of a specific EU target at this stage."

Setting targets has been a key part of EU environmental policy as a participant in the Kyoto Protocol, which aims to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by developed nations by 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-12.

US President George W. Bush cited negative effects on the economy when Washington pulled out of Kyoto, but British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Washington wants to start discussing measures to combat climate change and may sign up to an agreement on the issue this year.