Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 3

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Motion.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Mr. Browne,

Wexford): I move:

That Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 18 February 1994.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was one of the principal products of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development which took place in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The Taoiseach signed the Convention at the conference on behalf of Ireland. The formal purpose of today's debate is to comply with Article 29 of the Constitution which requires Dáil approval to international conventions which involve a charge on public funds; this approval will allow us to poceed to early ratification of this important global Convention.

Climate change is one of the most important environmental issues facing the world today. Growing scientific evidence and concern about the effects of climate change has led to a corresponding political momentum for measures to abate this problem; this process has now been focused in the Climate Change Convention.

So-called greenhouse gases occur naturally in the earth's atmosphere. Water vapour, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane and nitrous oxide trap heat in much the same way as do the glass panes of a greenhouse. This natural greenhouse effect makes it possible for people to live on earth.

Human activities, however, are adding to the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere and thus increasing the tendency to trap energy. Man-made carbon dioxide, which is the most important contributor to the enhanced greenhouse effect, comes mainly from the use of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Carbon dioxide is also released by the destruction of forests and other natural sinks that absorb carbon dioxide from the air.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC — a scientifically based body under UN auspices — produced a First Assessment Report in 1990. Its major conclusions were that the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased substantially as a result of human activity; this is expected to enhance the natural greenhouse effect, which keeps the earth warmer than it would otherwise be; without actions to restrain emissions, an increase in global average temperatures of around 0.3º per decade is likely in the future. This could imply a sea level rise of around six centimetres per decade.

These findings were confirmed in the panel's 1992 supplementary report.

I will briefly outline the main provisions of the convention which recognises that climate is a "common concern of human kind" and its ultimate objective is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere "to protect the climate system for present and future generations". All parties are required to undertake certain general commitments, including preparing national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions and sinks, and adopting national programmes for mitigating climate change.

The convention requires parties who are developed countries to undertake further specific commitments. These involve adopting national policies to limit man-made emissions of greenhouse gases and to protect and enhance greenhouse gas sinks. The convention sets an indicative target for developed countries of returning to earlier levels of emissions by the end of the decade.

However, the convention acknowledges that, within developed countries, there will be differences in starting points and approaches, economic structures and resource bases. The need for equitable and appropriate contributions within the efforts of developed country parties is also recognised.

Explicit provision is made in the convention to enable regional, economic organisations, such as the European Union, to fulfil jointly the commitments of their member states.

The European Union is responsible for some 15 per cent of the world's energy related CO2 emissions, compared to 23 per cent for the US and 11 per cent for China. The Dublin Declaration on the Environment of June 1990 noted the special responsibility of the European Union and its member states to encourage and participate in international action to combat global environmental problems. The EU has, accordingly, established a commitment to stabilising man made CO2 emissions in the Union as a whole at 1990 levels by the year 2000; the convention has also been recently ratified on the EU's behalf.

European Union policy also recognises, however, that member states whose economic development is incomplete will need targets and measures in the context of CO2 abatement policy to accommodate their necessary economic growth. It is accepted on this basis that some increase in CO2 emissions will be necessary in the four cohesion member states in the period to the year 2000 and that overall European Union stabilisation of emissions must be achieved on the basis of equitable burden sharing between certain member states.

The European Commission's strategy for achieving the stabilisation target envisages the following three elements: first, national programmes which will be monitored by the Commission within a formal monitoring mechanism; second, specific measures including research and development, energy efficiency and conservation programmes and third, fiscal measures.

Ireland and other member states have already submitted their national programmes to the Commission. Agreement has also been reached at Union level on energy efficiency measures in the context of the SAVE programme and on the promotion of alternative energy sources under the ALTENER programme. The Department of Transport, Energy and Communications, in co-operation with other agencies, is developing action at national level under both programmes.

The third element of the Commission's strategy, the carbon-energy tax proposal, is still being negotiated. The proposal is a complex one and presents difficulties of different kinds for many member states. For Ireland, the Government has made it clear that we do not oppose the principle of a carbon-energy tax provided that the following concerns are met: that the tax is modulated for the cohesion states; that satisfactory provision is made regarding the impact of the tax on the peat sector; that an effective conditionality clause is inserted so as to maintain the competitiveness of EU industry generally; and that effective provision is made to maintain the competitiveness of energy intensive firms facing competition from those not subject to similar charges.

Ireland's national CO2 abatement strategy was published by the Department of the Environment in June 1993. The strategy, which was agreed between a number of Government Departments, sets out a programme of measures in the areas of energy conservation, fuel use, transport, waste management and afforestation. The strategy also describes the constraints affecting the Irish situation; the need, on regional policy grounds, for continued economic expansion; structural factors such as our reliance on peat, which is a high carbon fuel, for about 15 per cent of our energy needs; Ireland's already high use of low carbon natural gas, and the absence of a nuclear energy option. All these factors limit Ireland's ability to reduce CO2 emissions.

The national strategy is based on the objective of limiting CO2 emissions to 10.7 million tones of carbon by the year 2000; this would represent an increase of 20 per cent over the 1990 level. This is the lowest projected increase among cohesion member states. The strategy also provides for a strong contribution from increased afforestation which provides a natural sink for carbon dioxide. Taking this increased sink capacity into account, the net national increase in emissions will be 11 per cent. While the strategy is mainly concerned with CO2 emissions, provision is also made in relation to methane emissions — another greenhouse gas — from landfill sites. Work is under way on the preparation of a national inventory of greenhouse gases apart from CO2.

The measures outlined in the strategy are designed to limit the levels of carbon in the atmosphere and to improve the energy efficiency of our economy. They include: an active demand side management policy by ESB to limit the growth in demand for electricity; improved insulation standards incorporated in the 1991 building regulations for new buildings; intensified promotion of energy conservation under the SAVE programme and otherwise; fuel switching — beneficial for CO2 reduction — will be promoted by the continued extension of natural gas network; in the transport sector, the principal objective is to improve public transport and reduce traffic congestion in Dublin; the Programme for Government gives a commitment to increase afforestation up to the year 2000. This will provide a substantial counterbalance to the expected increase in carbon emissions over the same period.

The strategy is well balanced and comprehensive, and will achieve its objectives. Public awareness of environmental matters are increased significantly in recent years with the acceptance of the principle of shared responsibility for our environment. We will all benefit environmentally and economically from the measures in the national CO2 abatement strategy. Increased energy efficiency is ultimately in everyone's interests.

The convention provides for a mechanism to provide financial resources on a grant or concessional basis to developing countries. The global environment facility, or GEF as it is known, has been entrusted, on an interim basis, with the operation of this financial mechanism.

The global environment facility was established in late 1990 as a three-year pilot programme to provide grants to developing countries for projects aimed at protecting the global environment in ways that are consistent with their national development goals. Negotiations on the establishment of the GEF on a permanent basis are due to be finalised in Geneva next week. Ireland will be represented at that meeting.

Final agreement has not been reached on the level of funding to be provided for the financial mechanism. This means that the costs associated with the convention can only be estimated tentatively at this stage. It is expected that the cost in the initial years will be around £250,000 a year. This amount will form part of Ireland's contribution to the global environment facility.

The motion comes before this House because of the requirements of Article 29, sub-article 5.2 of the Constitution, under which the State shall not be bound by any international agreement involving a charge on public funds unless the terms of the agreement shall have been approved by Dáil Éireann.

I commend the motion to the House.

Mr. Barrett

Increases in global warming and the potential climatic changes that could follow are important global problems which require the maximum international co-operation and action if they are to be tackled effectively. Fine Gael fully supports the ratification of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and will support policies and measures designed to limit man-made emissions of greenhouse gases and protect and improve forests and oceans that act as sinks and reservoirs for greenhouse gases.

The man-made changes in the earth's atmosphere are without precedent in recorded history. There is, therefore, good reason to believe the global warming may already be implicated in climatic changes. The six warmest years on record have occurred in the last 12. Increased droughts have led to severe famine in many parts of Africa and hurricanes have left thousands homeless in the Caribbean and South America. Freak summer rainfall has caused flooding of the Mississippi River basin. Although those facts do not constitute scientific proof, scientists warn that we can assume for practical purposes that global warming is to blame. To choose to ignore the warning of the scientists is wilfully to gamble with the environmental security of future generations.

Human activities are releasing substantial quantities of gases, including carbon dioxide, that increase the natural greenhouse effect in the earth's atmosphere. Under the UN Charter countries have a right to exploit their natural resources, but they also have a responsibility to ensure that activities under their control do not cause damage to the environment beyond their boundaries. The global nature of climate change requires the widest possible co-operation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response. The ultimate goal of this convention is to stabilise greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at levels that will not dangerously upset the global climate.

Most of the world's greenhouse gas emissions continue to come from developed countries. It is vital that those countries take the lead in combating climate change and its adverse effects. It is also important that they assist developing countries in dealing with the requirements of the convention by providing money and technological assistance. That is the key to the success of conventions such as this. Developing countries who are trying to increase their GNP do not enjoy the same standards of living as western countries. Anyone who visits such countries will be aware that their standards are far behind those of western Europe in particular, even though those standards are not sufficient. It would be unrealistic to expect developing countries to achieve or contribute towards the attainment of the targets set out in this convention without proper assistance from the western world, which I am glad to note is provided for under the convention. I welcome the fact that while we have financial problems we are making a reasonable contribution, in the region of £250,000 per annum. We would be fooling ourselves as a world population if we ignored the problems which developing countries will face in trying to reach the standards sought under this convention.

The European Union is committed to stabilising carbon dioxide emissions in the Union at the 1990 level by the year 2000. That is a step in the right direction, but the real target should be to reduce significantly CO2 emissions by the year 2005. The European Union should adopt a strategy for CO2 abatement by introducing research and development programmes and technical measures which encourage energy efficiency and fuel switching. Fiscal measures, in particular a carbon energy tax, should be introduced and the revenue raised should be recycled into abatement programmes. In other words, we should implement self-financing programmes throughout Europe.

While we have set ourselves targets here, we could take a lead in this regard. We could assist our economic development by ensuring that we are a prime example of what can be done to protect the environment. Ireland should aim to reach the European Union 2005 target of a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. It is possible to achieve such a target by implementing a more aggressive energy conservation and efficiency programme, the development of a renewable energy sector and the continued expansion of our forestry programmes. We need to invest in an expanded public transport system, particularly in our cities, but we should not ignore rural areas. This would encourage more people to migrate to the cities thus causing greater environmental problems. We should review the tax on new private cars which makes it less attractive for people to change their car on a frequent basis. Older cars contribute to the level of carbon and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. If we are serious about resolving these problems we must give good example and reorganise our tax system to encourage people to change their vehicles on a regular basis. That would be a practical way of dealing with the issue.

We should introduce stiffer building regulations to match the most stringent international insulation standards and provide grants for low interest loans for fitting existing housing stock with draught-proofing and insulation. Many people need assistance to carry out this work. We should implement educational and vocational programmes on energy efficiency particularly for architects, builders and property owners. People should be made aware of the benefits which derive from energy efficiency. Energy labelling should be mandatory on all appliances in easily understood technical language. Very often the language used is not clear to ordinary people. We should encourage industry to become more energy efficient by switching from less friendly environmental fuels to natural gas.

The awareness and concern expressed by our younger generation for the protection of the environment must not go unnoticed. I commend young people for their awareness of matters my generation did not fully appereciate. It is time we recognised the great benefit we can derive from the attention paid by our younger generation to the protection of the environment. Time is not on our side.

Mr. Molloy

Fáiltíonn an Páirti Daonlathach roimh an Convention seo agus tá súil againn go mbeidh an Rialtas andíograsach ag cur na moltaí atá ann i bhfeidhm. Tá súil againn freisin go gcomhlíonfaidh an Rialtas na cúraimí atá glactha acu faoin Convention go hiomlán agus go mbeidh siad sásta gach aon tacaíocht a thabhairt do na Ranna Stáit a bhfuil cúram ortha na dualgaisí ata glactha againn a chomhlíonadh.

The Progressive Democrats welcome the proposal before the House to ratify the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and express the wish that Ireland plays a full role in meeting its commitments under the Convention, that we participate fully in its subsidiary bodies and in time seriously set about implementing its recommendations and those that evolve from it and from discussions of subsidiary bodies established under it.

Many commentators were sceptical about the ability of the United Nations Rio Conference on Environment and Development to agree a common and effective worldwide policy capable of protecting the climate system for present and future generations. The Convention arose from the conference and it is the world's first collective move to deal with the enormous threat to our ecosystem because of our ignorance for so long of the long term effects of greenhouse gases on the earth's atmosphere.

The Convention recognises that climate change is a common concern of humankind and its objective is to develop a global strategy to protect the climate system for present and future generations. As its title indicates, the Convention is no more than a framework and the commitment of 150 signatory countries is to mainly putting in place regular monitoring of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases. They are also committed to formulating, implementing, publishing and regularly updating national programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change by addressing anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol and measures to facilitate adequate adaption to climate change. Although the framework set out in the Convention is comprehensive and should prove valuable as a major contribution to lessening the damage to the world's climate from CO2 emissions in particular, it is most disappointing that the world's leading developed countries among the 150 signatories of the Convention did not make a more specific and effective commitment than merely setting as an objective "the return by the end of the present decade to earlier levels of anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases".

In view of the serious threat to mankind from the continued negligent discharge of vast quantities of CO2 into the world's atmosphere, it was particularly disappointing that one of the worst offenders, the United States of America, did not see fit to give the lead by the introduction of specific stringent national requirements for CO2 emissions. It seems petrol guzzling Americans could not be asked by their President in an election year, to adjust their lifestyles by adopting cleaner technologies and energy efficiency to reduce their normal CO2 emissions. The Rio Convention could have set its signatories more stringent requirements if the Americans had the courage to give the world a lead in this issue. Regrettably, it chose not to do so.

We can take some satisfaction from the European Union's stand. It set its member states a strict commitment to stabilise Union emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, at 1990 levels by the year 2000. I wish to refer to the publication last June of a strategy for the abatement of CO2 emissions in Ireland by the Minister for the Environment.

The introduction to that report states: the United Nations framework convention on climate change was signed in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 by the European Community and its member states, including Ireland. The Convention envisages:

concerted international action to mitigage Climate Change. The Dublin Declaration on the Environment adopted during Ireland's EC Presidency in 1990 mooted the special responsibility the Community and its Member States had to encourage and participate in international action to combat global environmental problems. As evidence of this intent, a joint Council of Community Environment and Energy Ministers in Luxembourg in October 1990 declared the EC's near-term objective as stabilisation of CO2 emissions in general by the year 2000 at 1990 levels within the Community as a whole... Ireland's CO2 abatement strategy will accommodate necessary economic growth over the period of the Strategy and facilitate economic and social cohesion within the community in addition to contributing to stabilisation of the Community's CO2 emissions. The measures detailed in the strategy-limit as far as possible the growth in Ireland's CO2 emissions in the period to the year 2000. Stabilisation of emissions in this time-frame is not however feasible in Ireland's circumstances.

That is very significant policy statement by the Coalition Government and I do not believe it is generally known that the Government is reneging on the fine principles outlined by the previous Government in the Dublin declaration on the environment adopted during Ireland's EC Presidency in 1990. According to the Minister's strategy, the objective here is to increase CO2 emissions by 20 per cent on the 1990 figures by the year 2000 and to ignore the commitment by all member states at the joint council in October 1990. However, the Minister went on to say:

Forecasts, based on technical assumptions linking historical growth with energy requirements, together with assumptions about the fuel mix, would point to an increase in CO2 emissions in the year 2000 of over 20 per cent. Having regard to the accepted developments of the Irish economy and the constraints which surround Energy Policy Options, realisation of the objective of confining growth to 20 per cent will require major effort by all concerned — policy makers, energy utilities and above all users of energy. The Minister stated that not alone will we not achieve the EC objective of 1990 emission levels but that his objective is to show an increase of 20 per cent on the 1990 levels and he is not convinced he can achieve that level.

The Minister should give more details of major efforts to date to meet his limited half-hearted objectives of an increase of 20 per cent or more on the 1990 figure which is not in line with the European Union objective to reduce emissions to the 1990 figure or to achieve the limited objectives set out in the convention.

When one examines Appendix 2 of the Minister's strategy one can see the main emitters of CO2 in each sector of our economy. Coal and oil are the main sources through their extensive use in the generation of electricity and in the transport business. Our use of coal is 20 times higher than the EC average despite the fact that we do not have indigenous coal resources. Nearly two-thirds of all coal imported is used for the generation of electricity. If we are serious about reducing CO2 emissions and achieving our European Union commitments to reduce them to 1990 levels we must now seriously examine whether we should convert our major coal-burning power station at Moneypoint to gas. The comparative costs should be examined, published and debated. Political choices must be made. With our EU partners, we have adopted the principle that the polluter pays. It will soon become clear that this can become quite painful and present major economic problems in the future.

Nearly all our European Union partners have the benefit of CO2 free nuclear energy to generate electricity but we rightly rejected that opinion because of the enormous safety problems. On the other hand, we decided to retain the peat option which gives us little choice but to carefully examine our continued use of oil and coal in our electricity generating plans for the future. Our use of oil has been greatly reduced to something over 300,000 million tonnes. It would be appropriate to cease using oil for electricity generating purposes and, if necessary, not use stations that cannot easily be converted to gas. Our continued use of vast quantities of coal indefinitely must be carefully examined, sooner rather than later. We must act responsibly to protect the earth's environment for future generations and it is clear from the Minister's projections that we cannot meet our international commitments to reduce CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000 unless some major decisions are made about fuel consumption policy.

How long more can we continue to use coal as a major electricity fuel? Energy conservation, and the development of new energy sources, are important subjects. Conservation activity has waned in recent years in response to lower energy prices, but it should be put at the top of every country's economic agenda because of growing international concern about the environment.

In the case of new and renewable energy the economics of what are essentially new technology items have been seriously undermined by reduced energy prices worldwide. There are two clean energy options in particular which Ireland will have to devote much more resources to developing wind power and hydropower. Wind energy potential in Ireland is significant. This has been proven by the outstanding success of the Belacorrick Windfarm which has been operating very successfully in Mayo since late 1992. The potential for hydroelectric schemes is very extensive. The ESB and An Foras Forbartha were involved in surveying more than 3,500 sites and produced a report on that matter. There is potential for hydroelectric schemes. It is clear that energy efficiency is not being adequately tackled here. We should seriously consider the energy tax option, but it must be considered on a United Nations or worldwide basis because of the economic disadvantage faced by countries who proceed in that direction.

I regret my time is running out but I wish to stress that change is already taking place in the climate here, with disastrous consequences. I have reports of a geological survey on flooding in south Galway which shows the exceptionally high rainfalls in that region in 1990 and 1991. At present 10,000 acres are under water due to the exceptional high rainfall in the past two months. Climate change has occurred and we are witnessing the bad effects. The Government will have to consider ways of alleviating this problem and show some compassion for those who are suffering due to the great change in climate.

Mr. Sargent

What the Green Party has to say on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change dovetails very well with my contribution last night on the National Development Plan. Predictably, the traditional Left-Right parties expended most of their energies quibbling about who said what on Structural Funds from the EU. The analogy of rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic comes to mind when that debate is compared with the implications of this Convention.

There is an element among the scientific community of doctors differing while patients die in terms of climate change. My former colleagues in Dublin County Council, now Fingal County Council, highlighted this feature when the council was offered low lying land, which is liable to flooding, to be used as a car park. The response from the management of Dublin County Council was that nothing is proven, despite the fact that the water is evident. This blind attitude is reflected in this House, as the Minister for Finance continues to say that we must put off the day of reckoning until there is some evidence of economic growth.

In the past 200 years we have caused a 23 per cent increase in CO2 levels, bringing them to a concentration higher than any in the past 100,000 years. We are also responsible for new man-made gases being released into the atmosphere of our 4,500 million year old planet. One of these gases is Krypton 85, the main gas discharged from THORP, which brings to mind our inaction on that issue. By the year 2030 we will have caused global temperatures to be higher than they have been for the past two million years, higher than those in which 70 per cent of our existing species, including ourselves, have evolved. Various scientific reports have outlined the dangers of greenhouse gases. The response from local authorities and the Government, who ought to be more responsible, is to say that more research, a balanced approach and realistic measures are needed, but they fail to take decisive action.

Prior to the signing of this Convention at Rio de Janeiro, the intergovernmental panel on climate change reported that a 60 to 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases is necessary to stabilise the world's climate. Ireland uses 18 per cent more energy in terms of economic productivity than the EU average. We have very little to be proud of and a considerable amount of which to be ashamed. We are miserly in our provisions for energy conservation, almost dismissing it as a fringe activity.

In the Dáil our example has been disgraceful. During the summer the floorboards of this Chamber were ripped up in an extravagant attempt to fit an air conditioning system to replace the fans that had been working well. That is an example of how not to tackle energy conservation. My office in Kildare House has windows which cannot open and there is a constant blast of air, sometimes cold and sometimes hot, but always draughty. We should certainly get our own house in order in this regard.

We have done very little in terms of renewable energy and we have provided very little in the form of resources. Can we afford not to conserve energy? The greenhouse effects are manifold, the lesser of which is the soil effect. Professor Gundolf Kohlmaier of Frankfurt University stated that a 2 per cent increase in temperature would increase the amount of carbon released by the soil by 224 billion tonnes to 383 billion tonnes. At present we burn five billion tonnes of fossil fuel. Professor Kohlmaier said that the response of vegetation and soil in combination could introduce unexpected feedbacks that are not currently included in the models of climate. We have not even begun to consider these effects.

Another greenhouse effect is the water effect. As we know, CO2 is soluble in water. Professor Peter Liss from the University of East Anglia has pointed out that during glacier times the oceans held much more CO2 than at present. The release of carbon from fossil fuel burning amounts to five billion tonnes, two billion of which goes into the ocean, two billion into the atmosphere and one billion elsewhere — it is not fully understood where it all goes. Plankton, which absorbs much of that two billion tonnes, is slowing down its absorption as temperatures increase.

There is evidence that the North Pole has decreased by one third during the last ten years. In 1976 ice thickness in Greenland was six or seven metres while in 1987, nine years later, it was four or five metres. As ice absorbs CO2 the effects of the changes in global climate in this area will be catastrophic.

Ireland has very little to be proud of in terms of the United Nations framework convention. Our CO2 abatement policy, as the Minister calls it, is very misleading to say the least. Instead of decreasing CO2 emissions, we are giving the impression that we are doing something about this problem and at the same time giving excuses as to why emissions should be increased. The EU agreed to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. Spain said it could not possibly achieve this target as it was a poor country. Like sheep, we decided to follow Spain and seek an exemption. Britain was not prepared to watch Ireland and Spain get away with murder and it also decided to seek an exemption. The agreement is now effectively in tatters. We have wrecked the international consensus on this issue.

The Government fails to understand that instead of inhibiting growth, reducing CO2 emissions redirects growth and makes for growth in areas which are more labour intensive. The ESRI has said that an energy tax would be of great benefit in terms of employment if it was applied unilaterally. Such a tax would give local economies much more independence. By increasing our CO2 emissions we are setting a very bad example to poorer countries.

We accept that we will have to reduce the level of CO2 emissions after the year 2000 but by that stage we will have become more dependent on fossil fuels. The 1990 Department of the Environment report on climate change seemed to suggest that climate change would be good for Ireland. However, it failed to discuss wind speeds, storms and the effects of wind on crops, forests, fishing fleets, coastal defences — an enormous headache for local authorities — and buildings in general. We are talking as if these issues do not matter. Reference is made in the report to horticulture. The people of North Dublin know all about the effects of storms on horticulture. I do not think the Minister will be taking his responsibilities seriously if he allows CO2 emissions to increase at a time when farmers are going to the wall, so to speak.

I urge the Government to give a lead in creating a model economy based on low fossil fuel usage. This will be of benefit in terms of the climate, will lead to more employment, reduce international competition and lead to more fully developed communities.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Mr. Browne,

Wexford): I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I wish Deputy Barrett well as spokesman on the Environment for the main Opposition party.

I agree that the convention was a major step forward in dealing with global environment issues. I expect this framework convention to develop over time in the same way as the very successful Montreal Protocol on the substances which depleted the ozone layer.

Deputy Molloy referred to the need to stabilise CO2 emissions and quoted the CO2 abatement strategy. EU policy proposes a stabilisation of CO2 emissions by the year 2000. However, it also recognises that countries such as Ireland whose economic development is incomplete need time to achieve this target. Under EU policy the four cohesion countries are permitted to increase CO2 emissions. The increase proposed for Ireland is the lowest of the four cohesion countries. We favour certain energy constraints, for example, we deliberately do not have nuclear power. Last week in the House the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications explained the Government's policy on THORP. It has to be accepted that we must use a variety of fuels for security of supply reasons. Usage of natural gas is very high while peat is an important indigenous fuel. We must also use a certain amount of coal in the foreseeable future.

Mr. Molloy

In other words, we will do nothing.

Mr. Sargent

We will not have a very long future.

Mr. Browne

(Wexford): Deputy Barrett stressed the importance of developing countries making a contribution to improving the global environment. It is expected that agreement will be reached in Geneva next week on the establishment of the global environment facility. Ireland will participate in the GEF and our contribution under the climate change and bio-diversity conventions will be paid through this facility. Reference has been made to a contribution of £250,000, which is reasonable for a country of this size.

The Government is fully committed to appropriate forms of renewable energy. Deputy Molloy referred to wind energy. The ESB has been requested, in consultation with the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications, to prepare a competition to contract for supplies of up to an additional 75MW of installed capacity from alternative sources by the year 1997. It is expected that further development of wind energy will be a significant part of this initiative. Such a development will be encouraged by the success of the Belacorrick wind project in County Mayo where 21 turbines with a combined capacity of 6.45MW were installed in late 1992. This project, which has exceeded expectations, produced 15.6 million units of electricity in its first year of operation.

The location of new projects will be a matter for individual developers. It is proposed to monitor the performance of successful projects with a view to developing future strategy in this important area. Last week Deputy Sargent informed me of a number of projects and possible developers of wind energy. In my county some developers have encountered objections from local communities. This problem has to be tackled. Developers are looking at the potential of various areas for the development of wind energy.

Mr. Molloy

There is plenty of room at Belacorrick for expansion. There are no environmental problems there.

Mr. Sargent

The people of County Mayo are well educated.

Mr. Browne

(Wexford): The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to promote energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy. This commitment has been reinforced in the National Development Plan which highlights the need to ensure that energy is conserved as efficiently as possible as one of the primary objectives of energy policy.

Deputy Barrett referred to afforestation. There has been a steady increase in the amount of forestry plantation in recent years, and I hope this will continue. The ESB is pursuing an active policy to limit the growth in demand for electricity.

Deputy Barrett also referred to the need to proceed with the vehicle testing scheme. This area is expected to have a major environmental benefit with the maintenance of engines, etc. in good running order. Transport is also a significant source of CO2 emissions. The Dublin Transportation Initiative, of which Deputy Barrett is aware, is examining ways of introducing regulations——

Mr. Barrett

Will we have the light rail system?

Mr. O'Dea

Yes.

Mr. Barrett

Is the Minister of State confirming that?

Mr. Browne

(Wexford): I have no doubt we will have that system. The new building regulations are strict and comprehensive. Eolas, the National Agency for Science and Technology, will continue to promote an ongoing energy conservation programme. We also have a number of initiatives under the SAVE and ALTENER programmes which I outlined earlier. The initiatives referred to and which were called for by Deputy Barrett are very much in train and I hope they will have a major impact on climate change.

I thank the various Deputies for their contributions. We all have different views and opinions but we must strike a balance and, as I said earlier, the four Cohesion countries have been given special considerations within the EU and we will work to meet out objectives by the year 2000.

Question put and agreed to.