The Plan for the assignment of carbon dioxide quotas, in conformity with the Kyoto Protocol on the reduction of greenhouses gases, formally came into force on 1st January. But only ten National Plans have so far been finally approved by the EU’s executive Commission. Eleven are still in process of completion, while four (those of the Czech Republic, Poland, Greece and Italy) still remain “open”. The “National Plans for the assignment of CO2 quotas” are aimed at determining the total quantity of carbon dioxide that the national governments assign to their own firms in the case of the thresholds permitted by the Protocol being exceeded and that firms must sell or purchase in a kind of “polluting emissions exchange”, the first system of its kind in the world. The Commission is awaiting to evaluate as soon as possible also those Plans that are still incomplete or lacking with a view to being able to open the system at the continental level. For further information, consult the website http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment
