The European Union is set to miss crucial targets on reducing emissions, although new technologies could help, a report has claimed.

Despite the introduction of a range of new technologies, such as diesel filters, hybrid vehicles and the continued development of fuel cells, none have had a sufficient impact on the way Europeans go about their business to reduce emissions levels.

A report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned that the EU, which is at the heart of the Kyoto agreement to reduce global emissions by 2010, will miss its own target of an eight per cent reduction from 1990 levels.

Indeed, the report claims that there are signs that emissions in the EU have begun to grow since 2000, while longer vehicle journeys have so far nullified any impact that improved emissions technologies and more effective catalysts might have had on the automotive industry.

However, the EEA survey does point to some hope for EU countries as they strive to meet the 2010 target.

It suggests that new technologies such as fuel cells be implemented as soon as possible in order to resurrect the hope of the EU reaching its 2010 goals.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd