Eurobrief October 2009

EDITORIAL Climate change: benchmarking. A daunting task everywhere October 2009 - In Europe, a clinker benchmark is the appropriate and only workable solution when it comes to the cement industry (in relation to the benchmark for free allocation of CO2 allowances in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme [ETS]). In early November, this was confirmed by the publication of the ECOFYS report

WASTE Conference on implementing Waste Framework Directive held A two-day conference entitled ‘The New Waste Framework Directive: Towards Transposition’ brought together over 100 participants from the European Institutions, national ministries, industry representations and private companies to discuss the challenges posed by the Waste Framework Directive.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Environment Committee debates list of vulnerable sectors An exchange of views on a draft European Commission measure on sectors deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage took place in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee earlier this month.

WASTE Draft guidance on REACH annex V published New draft guidance from ECHA on Annex V of REACH (exemptions from registration) has been made available, together with an assessment of comments raised on the previous version released in June 2009.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Commission publishes results of carbon auctioning consultation The European Commission recently presented the results of a stakeholder consultation on a proposed new carbon allowance auctioning regulation.

CEMBUREAU CEMBUREAU gives presentation at cement manufacturing gathering

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Commission proposes VAT overhaul to fight carbon market fraud The European Commission has announced plans to overhaul the EU’s VAT system in a bid to prevent fraudulent practices connected with the EU ETS.

CEMBUREAU Debate held on alternative fuels in the cement industry CEMBUREAU gave a presentation on the co-processing of alternative fuels in the cement industry at a dinner debate organised by the European Energy Forum this month.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Commission to allocate funds for CCS projects Commission proposals to allocate €1.05 billion to seven carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Europe were presented recently to Member States.

CEMBUREAU WIKI sustainable construction project seeks expert input A joint project between the Architects Council of Europe (ACE) and the Europe Concrete Platform (ECP), to create a common language for sustainable construction, has entered its consultation phase.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME No turbulence in carbon market following ECJ ruling The eight countries that sued the European Commission over its decision to tighten their emission caps have not experienced a dramatic fluctuation in the number of carbon allowances, according to industry analyst Point Carbon.

CEMBUREAU CEMBUREAU to chair European minerals forum session CEMBUREAU is chairing a session on Meeting the Climate Change Challenge at the European Minerals Forum on 25 November 2009.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Environment Committee debates marine CCS proposal A debate on the Draft Report on the convention for the protection of the marine environment: relating to the storage of carbon dioxide streams in geological formations took place in Parliament’s Environment Committee earlier this month.

ENVIRONMENT IEA revises emissions predictions following economic downturn Global CO2 emissions from the energy sector could decline by up to 3% this year because of economic contraction, says the International Energy Agency (IEA).

ENVIRONMENT Finance Ministers discuss energy taxes Delegates attending the informal meeting of finance ministers in Gothenburg, Sweden, discussed a review of Directive 2003/96/EC, which would restructure the Community framework for the taxation of energy products.

ENVIRONMENT 13 Member States likely to exceed pollutant ceiling According to the European Environment Agency, 13 EU Member States are set to exceed national limits set by the NEC Directive on at least one of four major pollutants in 2010.

ENVIRONMENT G77 claims that EU and US 'undermining climate talks' The G77 group of developing nations has claimed that the developed world is trying to avoid new binding commitments to cut emissions, accusing them of trying to undermine the Kyoto protocol.

CEMBUREAU Coalition demands end to energy waste in buildings A coalition of environmental NGOs has launched a new manifesto by the name of ‘Cool Products, Warm Homes’ in the European Parliament.

BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS Energy efficiency of buildings proposal discussed in Council The Council Working Party on Energy met earlier this month to examine the proposal to amend Directive 2002/91/EC on energy performance of buildings.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Exchange of views on REACH implementation held in Environment Committee An exchange of views with the Commission on the implementation of REACH was held in Parliament’s Environment Committee earlier this month.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REACH - ECHA updates information for registering notified substances The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has updated the Questions and Answers for the registrants of previously notified substances.

HEALTH AND SAFETY ECHA published list of chemical registered under REACH A list of the 156 chemicals registered so far under the EU’s REACH chemicals regulation has been published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).