Vol. 487 No. 3
207 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he will take at EU Council level to ensure that the protocol loopholes are closed off at COP4 in Buenos Aires in November 1998 and that, regardless of COP4 results, these loopholes will not be used by the Irish Government. [3795/98]
213 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he will take at EU Council level to ensure that the protocol loopholes are closed off at COP4 in Buenos Aires in November 1998, and that these loopholes will not be used by the Irish Government regardless of COP4 results. [3917/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 213 together.
The Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change provides for certain flexibility mechanisms for parties in achieving compliance with their legally binding commitments to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These mechanisms include the optional use of a 1995 base year for hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride; joint implementation on the basis of project related investment by one developed country in the territory of another; and the creation of a clean development mechanism to assist developing countries in achieving sustainable development and in contributing to the ultimate objective of the Convention.
The Protocol also provides that developed countries may participate in emissions trading for the purposes of fulfilling their greenhouse gas emission limitation and reduction commitments, provided that any such trading is supplemented to domestic action. The relevant principles, modalities, rules and guidelines, in particular for verification, reporting and accountability, are to be defined at the Fourth Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP4) in Buenos Aires in November 1998.
In addition, the Protocol requires parties which have directly ensured afforestation, reforestation and deforestation since 1990 to offset the amount of carbon sequestered in these sinks against their target. This is a restricted approach to the counting of sinks, linked to quantifiable human action. Further negotiations on modalities, rules and guidelines are required before additional sinks related to human activities may be allowed in future.
In advance of the meetings in June 1998 of the subsidiary bodies to the Convention, which are expected to consider certain of these aspects of the Protocol, the EU is working towards the adoption of a common position. These meetings will prepare for COP4, at which the same aspects will be addressed further. Throughout the negotiations leading to the Kyoto Protocol, the EU wished to avoid a situation where unwarranted flexibility in the terms of the Protocol could dilute the commitment to real action. This consideration, which I support, will continue to inform the EU approach.
