Spain Slipping Even Further Away From Kyoto Goals As Emissions Increase

[hatrack]

MADRID - Spain's carbon dioxide emissions climbed again in 2005 meaning that the country, already the worst performer among rich nations, moved even further away from meeting its Kyoto goals. A report by environmental group Worldwatch and the Spanish trade union CCOO showed this week that output of CO2 and other greenhouse gases rose to 53 percent above the 1990 base year.

Spain is allowed a 15 percent increase in greenhouse gases between 1990 and 2008-12 under the Kyoto protocol. Most other rich countries have curbed their output of the gases, believed to be responsible for global warming.

In 1990 Spain lagged behind the rest of the European Union in terms of living standards. The country's rapid industrial growth over the last 15 years, along with rises in car ownership and electricity consumption, have led to higher greenhouse gas output.

The 2005 emissions figure was worsened by drought, which crimped hydroelectric power production and meant utilities had to resort to coal and gas for more of their generation. Compared with 2004, emissions of greenhouse gases rose 3.4 percent to reach 442 billion tonnes. Primary energy consumption grew 3 percent last year, but the amount of fossil fuels Spain burned rose 5.3 percent. That was partly because hydroelectric power production dropped 40 percent in a year with the lowest rainfall on record.

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