Trading CO2 emission quota could earn the government $750 million

According to environment analysts Poland should begin trading CO2 emission quotas before joining the European Union, as after becoming a member it will have to conform to EU environmental laws. Poland's CO2 emissions are 30% lower than its international quota, therefore the surplus of emission could be sold on. "Before we will create a new area of economic activity, that is the climate market, we ought to ratify the Kyoto treaty," said Czeslaw Sleziak, Deputy Environment Minister. Two Parliamentary commissions on environment protection have unanimously accepted the draft of an amendment ratifying the treaty and recommend that it be accepted by the Sejm. The Environment Ministry estimates that during the first period, between 2008 and 2012, Poland will be able to sell anywhere from 50 million to 75 million tons of CO2 at the current market price of $8 to $10 per ton, thus receiving up to $750 million for the quota. An emission trading system will come into force in all EU member countries in 2005. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) M.T.K.