Italy reports heavy increase in greenhouse gas emissions
Pastor Dale Morgan
Italy reports heavy increase in greenhouse gas emissions*
ROME, Oct 24 (AFP) Oct 24, 2006
Greenhouse gas emissions in Italy increased by 12.2 percent between 1990
and 2004, primarily caused by the energy sector, according to a report
by the Italian environmental protection agency (APAT).
At the same time, the Italian government is committed to reducing the
emissions by 6.5 percent by the 2008-2012 period in accordance with the
Kyoto Protocol, said the report released at a conference in Rome on
climate change.
The APAT report also indicated that greenhouse gas emissions have
diminished by 7.0 percent in agriculture, but have increased by 19
percent in the waste industry, mainly due to the methane gases in
garbage dumps.
The study looked at the six greenhouse gases named in the protocol --
carbonic gas, methane, nitrogen oxide and three fluoride gases -- which
are expected to be reduced within the European Union in 2008-2012 by 8.0
percent from their 1990 levels.
The chief target of the Kyoto Protocol -- the United Nations' global
warming pact -- is to get industrial countries to trim their pollution
of gases blamed for driving dangerous climate change.
As part of its participation in the protocol, Italy has earned
additional credits for greenhouse gas emissions by financing projects
overseas such as a hydroelectric dam being built in Honduras.