Commission proposes to improve greenhouse gas accounting rules for forestry and agriculture

The European Commission today proposed establishing common EU accounting rules for greenhouse gas emissions and removals in the forest and agriculture sectors, the last major sectors without common EU-wide rules. The proposal represents a first step towards incorporating emissions and removals resulting from activities related to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) into EU climate policy.

Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action, said: "What we propose today is harmonised rules to account for forest and agriculture emissions. This is the first step to incorporate these sectors into the EU's reduction efforts. In Durban all countries agreed revised accounting rules for these sectors. The EU is now delivering with this proposal. The proposal will also contribute to protecting biodiversity and water resources, support rural development and have a more climate-friendly agriculture."

Read more:

• IP/12/234: Commission proposes to improve common greenhouse gas accounting rules for forestry and agriculture
• MEMO/12/176: Q&A on accounting rules and action plans on greenhouse gas emissions and removals resulting from activities related to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF)