Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Sep 1995

Vol. 456 No. 1

Written Answers. - Carbon Dioxide Emissions.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

133 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment the progress the Government is making in following the example set by Germany and Denmark in setting a target of a 20 per cent reduction for carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2005, in the light of the latest evidence on the projected increase in climate change and the ESRI report which recommends a shift from tax on labour to tax on energy in order to leave Ireland's economy competitive even if the shift is unilateral. [13601/95]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

Existing EU policy has been to stabilise the level of carbon dioxide emissions at their 1990 level by the year 2000 in the Union as a whole. Within this policy, which acknowledges the need of some member states for ongoing growth in energy demand in line with economic development requirements, Ireland is committed to limiting the growth in its CO2 emissions to 20 per cent over their 1990 level by the year 2000.

The EU position regarding limitation and reduction of CO2 emissions in the post 2000 period is being considered in the context of wider international negotiations now under way, in accordance with the Berlin mandate, on the strengthening of the commitments of the Climate change Convention. Ireland's objectives for the limitation of CO2 emissions in the post 2000 period will be determined as part of these EU discussions.

The EU and broader international negotiations now in progress on the strengthening of the Climate Convention commitments will take into account both the new report of the InterGovernmental panel on Climate Change and proposals by some parties to the Convention for CO2 reduction targets in the post 2000 period.

Discussion of proposals for carbon/energy taxation are at present continuing at EU Council level. Ireland is participating in these discussions on the basis of the commitment in the Programme for Government to contribute to the preparation of a pan-European taxation policy on carbon and fossil fuel inputs.