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Published online 15 May 2006 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news060515-1

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Europe fails on carbon limits

Industry emitted less than allowed in 2005; but that isn't good news.

The first year of the European Union's emissions trading system, a scheme by which industries can buy and sell 'carbon credits' to stay under their yearly quota of greenhouse gas emissions, has yielded a surprise. On 15 May, the European commission released data showing that Europe's major industries actually emitted 44 million tonnes less CO2 in 2005 than they were allowed.

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