Environmental analysis: Europe's economic problems 'good for climate change'

Green targets are being met by Europe as the recession affects emission levels, a report has revealed.

In 2009, emissions in the EU dropped by 11 per cent, allowing the 27-nation bloc to reach its environmental targets for the year without any investment in green technologies.

People reduced their use of electricity to save money, which had a positive effect on Europe's climate emissions.

"As belts tightened, demand for energy fell and many factories saw production levels go into steep decline," said Bryony Worthington, in an article to the BBC.

Ms Worthington added that this can only benefit the environment if more ambitious climate targets are introduced.

Emission caps were introduced in 2005 to reduce carbon emissions by 1.74 per cent a year. However, as a number of countries' emission levels have yet to reach these caps, it gives them room for pollution levels to grow back up to previous levels.

In 2009, the Commission of European Communities set targets at a reduction of 20 per cent in greenhouse gases by 2020.

Currently, Europe is expected to have reduced its emissions by 2020 between 25 and 40 per cent compared with 1990 levels.

Posted by Lauren Steadman