France vs. Romania

The environment and environment related topics are a common interest throughout all of the European countries and Romania makes no exception. Due to its EU membership, this country follows European directives and regulations for environmental issues.

In comparison with 1989, the total GHGs emissions (without considering sinks) decreased by 54.74 % in 2009, while the net GHG emissions/removals (taking into account the CO2 removals) decreased by 60.35%. Based on these observations, it is highly likely for Romania to meet the requirements regarding the reduction of the GHG emissions in its first commitment, 2008-2012. (National Inventory Report of Romania 2011 v. 3.1 National Environmental Protection Agency).

Analyzing the graph above, we can see three phases in the decrease of GHG emissions: one in 1989-1999,one in 1999-2008 and one in 2009(points of view). The 1^st phase is the result of closing several factories based on the decline of economic activities and consumption models that have changed after the removal of the communist regime.  Even in this first phase, there are two sub-phases: the major economic decline in 1989-1992 which leads to a decrease of emissions and another phase from 1996 when the economy becomes more productive and the Nuclear Power Plan from Cernavoda is finished.  The Nuclear Power Plant from Cernavoda provides almost 20% of the energy used in Romania at this time and helps reduce the GHG emissions by over 10 million tons each year. So, since 1997, the emissions decline again and it is predicted that this decline in GHG emissions will increase after the other 3 units will be finished.

Trends of the aggregated GHG emissions; Source:anpm.ro

Between 1999 and 2008 the emissions of GHG increased again and this fact shows an economic development that was stopped due to the economic crisis that spread across Europe. More information in the National Inventory Report from 2011.( you should use Internet Explorer for this one)

A report from 2000 made by the Ministry of Environment and Forests refers to the mechanism of transferable permits trading, where Romania has protocols with the Netherlands: joint activities to implement the Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by implementing energy saving methods and with Switzerland to improve energy efficiency in two thermal plants.  ) these two examples shows how countries with different level of development cooperate to achieve the targets.

Principles in environmental protection in Romania by O.U.G. 195/2005 approved by the Environmental Protection Law no. 265/2006:

• principle of integrating environmental policy into other sectorial policies;
• principle of precaution in making decisions 
• principle of preventive action ;
• principle of retention the pollutants at source ;
• the ‘polluter pays’ principle;
• principle of conservation the biodiversity and natural ecosystems specific to the biogeographic area ;
• sustainable use of natural resources
• public information and participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters ;
• development of international cooperation for environmental protection .

On the other side of the story is France, a developed country which has an insular part as well (the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean) and several overseas territories in North and South America, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. In 2009 GHG emissions for the whole Europe were 4.940 million tons of CO2. Four countries were responsible for over 53% of this amount: Germany, UK, Italy and France. This means that France is placing 4^th with 10.7% of all emissions. With 527 million tons of emitted CO₂ or 8.2 per capita France becomes one of the countries that are developed but their GHG emissions per capita are lower than the average. On multiple occasions, France was named the greenest European country. 

GHG emissions in EU IN 2008; Source: CITEPA, EEA, 

In the context of its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, France, has an objective to stabilize GHG emissions for the period 2008-2012. France succeeded in 2002 to align with current EU levels and since then, the country level remains at values ​​close to the target. In 2007, 71% of France’s GHG emissions came from using fossil fuel and the other 29% came from agriculture, waste processing, industrial processes and fluorinated gases and solvents.

The residential / tertiary saw an increase of GHG emissions by 6% between 1990 and 2007. Burning energy represents 92% of emissions in this sector, with a decrease of 1.4% between 1990 and 2007. But this change is closely related to weather conditions that directly affect the heating requirements. The remaining 8% are mainly related to fluorinated gases, the growing use of which explains the significant increase in this sector.

The most significant decrease of GHG emissions for the period 1990-2007 comes from manufacturing (-26%). Combustion emissions related to the energy industry, which accounts for nearly three quarters of the entire sector GHG emissions decreased by 12% during the period. A major effort to save energy, combined with an increased use of gas and electricity at the expense of coal and oil, has led to the significant decrease. Industrial processes constitute the second largest source of GHG emissions. Their level was halved between 1990 and 2007.