UNIT SIX

STEP ONE |Xj First Reading and Listening * Understanding the Major Message Instructions: Read the article and listen to the tape at the same time. Do not bother with the words you do not know. Try to understand only the major message. Then go to STEP TWO and find in our list what you think that message is.

EU Reaffirms Pledge to Meet Targets For Cutting Greenhouse Emissions

It Says It Could Even Exceed Guidelines ** Without Harming Its Economy
ing possible savings of around t'1.7 billion u year. The EU hopes to present proposed rules on setting up such an emissions-trading scheme in J u l y . publishing a report that said the 1 5-nation blot: could EU leaders are expected to raise the issue of Kyoto even exceed those guidelines w i t h o u t hurting its t h i s week when they meet w i i h M r . Bush i n economy. Gothenburg, Sweden. The Bush administration reMeanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush an- jected Kyoto in March, saying the mandatory pollunounced initiatives to study the rise in the earth's tion reductions would harm U.S. economic interests. t a proposed Asked about reports that Mr. Bush would propose treaty on global warming was flawed. v o l u n t a r y targets I'or c u t t i n g emissions, Ms. Wallstroem said, "We cannot rely on voluntary agree<?m EeMssed ftffept.^p^saiitftattlf Bljwas ments. I 'he strength of Kyoto was that you could have //well oa thfe way to-nteeiiig its target of an deadlines and quantified targets for countries." '%% cuOqBfflfsstonf by^2012 compared with 1990 In Washington on Monday, Mr. Bush reaffirmed -- levels.,-"Tbi f^an meet; its ^olojterget wi^oftt: his decision in March to pull the U.S. out of negotiaj. inpasili|T|hftai-rsibj^fiostS'wii^Birepeaneeonjo- tions to finali/.e the Kyoto treaty on global warming, lie called for research into technological solutions _ ' was based on a study outlining "cost to slow greenhouse-gas emissions without hurting the effective" ways to cut emissions. These included set- economy. S ting up an emissions-swapping system for EU naThe U.S. is the world's largest emitter of greentions, stricter rules on energy efficiency for build- house gases, w h i c h result in par ings and motors, and the promotion of more envi- ties, such as burning fossil fuel ronmentally friendly bio-fuels. , the U.S also accounts for about one-quarter of the Ms. Wallstroem said that the report covered only world's economic output. "We recognize our responthe most cost-effective measures and thai the EU sibility to reduce our emissions," he said. "We also could make double the cuts at a slightly higher cost. recognise the other part of the story that the rest The report said an EU-vvidc trading scheme by of the world emits 80% of all greenhouse gases and energy producers and industry could reduce thecosts many of those emissions arc from developing counof implementing Kyoto by nearly 20%, represent- tries.
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The European Union reaffirmed its eornmitmenl to enhouse-gas emissions

Number of words: 429