Spain
's
greenhouse gas emissions fell in 2008 from a year earlier, but the country
nevertheless doesn't expect to meet an emission target set for the 2008-2012
period under the Kyoto Protocol.
Greenhouse gas emissions fell 7.7% to 405,048 kilotons of carbon dioxide
equivalent in 2008,
Spain
's Environment
Ministry said in a release Wednesday.
With that,
Spain
's
emissions in 2008 were 40% higher than in 1990. In the 2008-2012 period,
Spain
's
emissions are seen at an average of 34% above 1990 levels, the ministry said.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union had committed itself to reduce
2008-2012 greenhouse gas emissions by 8% from 1990 levels, with varying targets
for each member country.
Under the agreement
Spain
was
granted permission to increase its emissions, by 15%, as its emissions in 1990
were far lower than those of the EU average. Also, the country's economy grew
much faster than that of most EU peers in the past two decades, causing a
disproportional rise in emissions.
Despite missing its own
Kyoto
target,
Spain
has
been vocal in the EU for the economic block to commit itself to ambitious
targets to lower greenhouse gases in the wake of the Copenhagen Climate deal. Spain currently holds the EU
presidency.