Eurobrief November 2009

EDITORIAL The European cement industry is vulnerable to carbon leakage - the decision & beyond November 2009 - For nearly two years the European cement industry has battled to be recognised as vulnerable to carbon leakage in the context of the EU ETS. This is now officially the case after the decision made in the European Parliament Environmental Committee on 4 November (this decision is final as far as the European Parliament is concerned) and the adoption by the Council on 30 November 2009.

CEMBUREAU CEMBUREAU participation in European Minerals forum On 25 November, the European Minerals Forum was held in Brussels.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME CEMBUREAU attends ECCP benchmarking meeting On 6 November CEMBUREAU participated in the Ad hoc meeting of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) stakeholder group on emissions trading covering the issue of benchmarking.

OTHER NEWS New EU-US Energy Council launched A new EU-US Energy Council, which aims to deepen transatlantic dialogue on strategic energy issues, has been launched.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Industry Committee holds exchange of views on ETS implementation An exchange of views between the European Parliament’s Industry Committee and the Commission on the implementation of the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) also took place earlier this month.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Sectoral approaches to emissions causing confusion Sectoral approaches to cutting greenhouse gas emissions are still causing enormous confusion, according to the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI), a member-led programme of the World Business Council for Sustainability Development(WBSCD).

ENVIRONMENT Negotiators aim for political breakthrough at Copenhagen The biggest obstacle to achieving an agreement at the Copenhagen climate summit will be disagreements over emission reduction commitments and financing, says the EU’s chief negotiator Artur Runge-Metzger.

ENVIRONMENT United Nations predicts delay over future climate change deal The conclusion of a new greenhouse gas emissions treaty could take up to a year after next month’s Copenhagen climate change summit, say United Nations officials.

ENVIRONMENT Legally binding sustainability criteria for biomass unlikely The European Commission is unlikely to come forward with a proposal that would make sustainability criteria for biomass used to generate heat and power legally binding.

ENVIRONMENT First European pollutant release register published A comprehensive new European pollutant release and transfer register – called E-PRTR – was launched earlier this month by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency.

ENVIRONMENT Europe to benefit from climate action, says report The recently published Report on Energy and Climate Policy in Europe (RECIPE) suggest that Europe could benefit from better climate protection even if no other countries join in, so long as a meaningful impact is made before 2020.

BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS Agreement reached on energy performance of buildings proposal Both the Parliament and Council agreed that all newly constructed buildings (commercial and housing) must be “nearly-zero energy” buildings as of 2020, though all new public sector buildings will have to be “nearly-zero energy” buildings by 2018.

BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS Parliament and Council reach informal agreement over energy labelling The European Parliament and Council have reached an informal agreement on the Commission’s energy labelling proposal.

WASTE New animal by products regulation published Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Animal by-products Regulation was published in the EU’s Official Journal on 14 November 2009.

HEALTH AND SAFETY CEMBUREAU identifies uses of (substances) in cement Within the framework of REACH, substances have to be registered for specific uses.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REACH - Late pre-registration deadline for large volume substances passes Companies that did not pre-register phase-in substances in manufactured or imported quantities over 1000t per year because they did not manufacture or import them before 1 December 2008, had until 30 November 2009 to complete a so-called late pre-registration.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Stakeholder consultation on Seveso II review A stakeholder consultation to discuss the forthcoming proposal for a review of the Seveso II Directive with the Commission was held on 10 November 2009.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Consultation on draft guidance for harmonised C&L proposals A draft guidance document for the preparation of proposals for harmonised classification and labelling under Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 is being developed by ECHA and the European Commission on the basis of the Annex XV C&L guidance.