Hungary to begin implementing climate change program

Hungary will implement the first programme of its long-term National Climate Change Strategy from 2009, Environment Minister Imre Szabo told an environment policy forum in Budapest on Thursday.

The government's 2008-2025 strategy, adopted in February, outlines Hungary's steps to fulfill international commitments, dealing with effects of climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting related research work, and raising awareness of the public, Szabo said.

The strategy objectives will be carried out in two-year programmes starting as of next year, he pointed out.

Another speaker at the forum, House Speaker Katalin Szili, who heads the National Council for Sustainable Development, said the event was an excellent opportunity for reviewing efforts Hungary had done so far in the field of environment protection and in handling climate change.

Deputy chairman of the Swedish parliament's environment committee Claes Vaesterteg noted that climate change and environment protection would be one of the main focus areas during the Swedish EU presidency in the second half of 2009.

Meanwhile, the Environment Ministry on Thursday said Hungary sold 6 million CO2 emission credits to Spain but declined to reveal the value of the deal. It added that talks were going on with other prospective credit trading partners in the EU and outside the block.

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