Deirdre Clune
Question:150 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will report on the final decision regarding the Kyoto Protocol taken by Environment Ministers at their meeting of 16 and 17 June 1998. [15588/98]
Written Answers. - Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
At the meeting of the EU Council of Environment Ministers on 16-17 June 1998 agreement was reached on the contribution of each member state towards the reduction of 8 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved by the European Community as a whole under Article 3 of the Kyoto Protocol, utilising the provisions of Article 4 of the protocol on joint fulfilment of the commitments under that Article. As part of this agreement, Ireland's commitment is to limit the increase in its greenhouse gas emissions to 13 per cent above 1990 levels by the period 2008-2012.
Agreement was also reached at the Council regarding action in relation to common and coordinated policies and measures as a necessary contribution to enable the Union and its member states to achieve the Kyoto target, together with, and as a complement to, national policies and measures. A copy of the relevant environment council conclusions are available in the Oireachtas Library.