During the last CPIV Environmental Committee meeting held in Sept 2000, the experts reviewed all EU environmental legislation affecting the glass industry. Two new issues were raised: The EU emission permits trading scheme, that aims to create a system where greenhouse gases (CO2) emissions permits are traded among "entities" (=Member States or enterprises?) on a market-oriented basis, with the objective to reduce the total compliance cost of the Kyoto protocol by standardising the marginal costs between participants; and, the EU Pollutant Emission Register, that obliges enterprises to report individually on their atmospheric and water emissions if they exceed a certain threshold value. A Green Paper has been issued on the subject of the EU emission permits trading scheme to initiate the debate on: europa.eu.int/comm/environment/docu/0087_en.htm
