3.6.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 159/53 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 18 May 1998 concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community (Altener II) (98/352/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130s(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Atrticle 189c¢ of the Treaty (%), (1) Whereas Article 130r of the Treaty provides that one of the objectives of Community action is to ensure prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; (2) Whereas Article 129 of the Treaty provides that health protection requirements shall form a constituent part of the Community’s other policies; whereas the Altener programme contributes to health protection; (3) Whereas at its meeting on 29 October 1990 the Council announced its objective of stabilising total CO, emissions by 2000 at the 1990 level in the Community as a whole; 1 () OJ C 192, 24. 6. 1997, p. 16. () OJ C 19, 21.1.1998, p. 32. () OJ C 379, 15. 12. 1997, p. 63. (Y) Opinion of the European Parliament of 6 November 1997 (OJ C 358, 24. 11. 1997, p. 30), Council Common Position of 19 January 1998 (O] C 62, 26. 2. 1998, p. 31 ) and Decision of the European Parliament of 30 April 1998 (O] C 152, 18. 5. 1998). (4) Whereas a mechanism for monitoring CO, and other greenhouse gas emissions in the Community was established by Decision 93/389/EEC (°); (5) Whereas CO, emissions from energy consumption in the Community are likely to increase by about 3% between 1995 and 2000, assuming normal economic growth; whereas it is, therefore, essential to adopt additional measures; (6) Whereas at its meeting on 25 and 26 June 1996 the Council noted that in the framework of the negotiations on a protocol concerning the Berlin Mandate, the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (SAR IPCC) had concluded that the balance of evidence suggested that there was a discernible human influ- ence on global climate change and had stressed the need for urgent action at the widest possible level, noted that significant ‘no-regrets’ opportunities were available and requested the Commission to identify the measures that had to be taken at Community level; (7) Whereas with the Green Paper of 11 January 1995 and the White Paper of 13 December 1995 the Commission communicated to the FEuropean Parliament and the Council its views on the future of energy policy in the Community and on the role that renewable energy sources should play; () OJ L 167, 9. 7. 1993, p. 31.