John Bruton
Question:158 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment if he will require all existing power stations and industries to apply for an air pollution licence on the same basis on which new industries must apply.
Written Answers. - Air Pollution Control.
Under the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Licensing of Industrial Plant) Regulations, 1988, certain classes of existing industrial plant require to be licensed by local authorities under the Air Pollution Act, 1987. Regulations to be made shortly will specify emission limit values for existing plant using waste oils and for large power stations. Further provision for the control of existing plant will be developed within the context of the strengthened control provisions provided for in the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992.
John Bruton
Question:159 Mr. J. Bruton and Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline his views on the scientific evidence of global warming; and if he will further outline his views as to the relative contribution to this phenomenon of CFCs, carbon dioxide emissions, methane emissions and nitrogen oxide emissions.
The scientific evidence in relation to global warming has recently been reviewed in detail by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the body established to advise on such matters. The broad conclusion is that recent research does not affect the fundamental understanding of the science of the greenhouse effect and either confirms, or does not justify alteration of, the major conclusions of earlier work by IPCC, including its belief that emissions from human activities are substantially increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.
IPCC developed a number of scenarios for possible trends in emissions of greenhouse gases over the next century in the absence of new control measures beyond those already adopted. On this basis, IPCC estimates that there could be a consequent global mean temperature increase ranging from 1.5ºC to 3.5ºC by the year 2100 before possible cooling effects of stratospheric ozone depletion and sulphate aerosols are taken into account. The principal gas implicated in such warming is carbon dioxide followed by chlorofluorocarbons, methane and nitrous oxide.
Many uncertainties remain in predictions regarding the timing, magnitude and regional patterns of climate change. Research continues worldwide on global warming and the role of the various gases. I am satisfied, nevertheless, that the evidence now available justifies precautionary action.