Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 5

Written Answers. - Climate Change Convention.

Donal Carey

Question:

52 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department was represented at the meetings of the International Committee on Climate Change which were held in Washington DC, Geneva and Nairobi; if so, if he will state who the representatives were; and if there are any reports on the conclusions of these conferences.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) has been charged by the General Assembly of the United Nations with the task of preparing a climate change convention for adoption at the Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The INC have met on three occasion: in Washington, February 1991, Geneva, June 1991 and Nairobi, September 1991.

The European Community is playing a leading role in the negotiations and the Community position is being developed on an on-going basis with active participation by Ireland. Ireland was represented at the Washington meeting by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and at Geneva by officials from the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Environment and Energy. We were not separately represented at the Nairobi meeting, regard having been had to the agreed Community position and the progress of the negotiations. It is intended that Ireland will be represented at the forthcoming session in Geneva in December.

Reports on the three INC sessions so far held have been circulated in accordance with standing UN procedures.