Poland wins CO2 emissions dispute

25th September 2009

The European Court of First Instance has ruled against the EC in its dispute with Poland over limits on greenhouse gas emissions for 2008-2012.

The ruling overturns a 2007 decision that could have cost Polish industries and consumers millions of zlotys.

The court ruled that the EC exceeded its authority in requiring Poland to make drastic cuts in its CO2 emissions.

Poland had requested the right to 284mln tonnes of CO2 emissions for its industry, but the EC granted only 208.5 mln tonnes in rights, arguing that figures provided by the Polish government for GDP growth were unrealistic.

The cuts demanded by Brussels would likely have led to dramatic increases in the cost of energy ...