Italy close to hitting Kyoto protocol targets

(ANSA) - Rome, April 16 - Italy is close to achieving its Kyoto Protocol commitments to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, a report by the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) said Wednesday. Under the terms of the treaty to combat climate change, Italy was committed to reducing its greenhouse-gas emissions by 6.5% in the 2008-2012 period compared to the level of 1990.
    ISPRA said that in the 2008-2012 period Italy actually reduced its greenhouse emissions by 4.6%.
    It said this means Italy is just the equivalent of 16.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide away from meeting the target for this period, adding that the use of credits from Kyoto's flexible mechanism would make it possible to hit it with a "minimum effort". ISPRA said Italy's greenhouse emissions were down 5.4% in 2012 with respect to the previous year and 11.4% lower than in 1990, due to greater use of renewables to generate power and lower energy consumption due to the economic crisis. The international community has not yet agreed on new treaty to replace Kyoto for further cuts in greenhouse emissions needed to fight climate change.