The Kyoto Protocol requires the 39 industrialised countries that signed it to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 5% compared with 1990 levels, 1990 being the reference year for the period 2008-2012.

The EU has transposed the Kyoto Protocol into an emission rights trading system covering a number of industrial sectors. Together, these sectors account for 45% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

The part of this system relating to CO2 came into effect on 1 January 2005 and forces industry to make rational use of energy.

France is doing better than most EU countries in meeting the quotas imposed by the Kyoto Protocol. On 17 December 2004, the European Commission gave final approval to France's national allocation plan for CO2 emissions quotas for the period 2005-2007. The plan accounts for an annual total of 156.51 Mt of CO2. (http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/developp/serre/textes/pnaq.htm)

Until 2010, France's aim is to stabilise its greenhouse gas emissions at their 1990 level. To achieve this, it has implemented a voluntary policy run mainly via the Agency for the Environment and Energy Management (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie or ADEME), which is active in the field of sustainable development.

ADEME is a public body involved in trade and industry, under the joint supervision of the ministries of Ecology and Sustainable Development, Industry and Research. It participates actively in tackling CO2 emissions within the European SAVE programme. The SAVE programme monitors compliance with the Protocol via two projects: ODYSSEE, which aims to produce an accurate energy efficiency indicator in different countries and sectors, such as transport and industry, and MURE (Modèle d'Utilisation rationnelle de l'Energie), set up to provide a database on the efficiency of European policies in this area.

For more information, see the following websites:
http://www.ademe.fr/partenaires/odyssee/angl/
http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/energie/developp/serre/textes/se_kyoto.htm

By choosing natural gas, your company will be helping to meet these environmental targets.

• Burning natural gas produces much less CO2 than burning other fossil fuels.
• Natural gas enables the development of sophisticated applications and equipment whilst maintaining a relatively low consumption.
• Because natural gas has a low sulphur content, it releases practically no SO2 when burnt.
• Using natural gas, particularly with low-NOx burner technology, helps to cut NOx emissions.

As a natural gas supplier, Distrigas is contributing actively to the rational use of energy by offering its customers tailor-made and energy-efficient solutions. Your Key Account Manager keeps a close eye on environmental legislation and will be happy to advise you on what your company can do to help protect the environment.