Agreement was reached at the meeting of the EU Council of Environment Ministers in Luxembourg on 16-17 June 1998 relating to the contribution of member states towards the reduction of 8 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved by the EU as a whole under the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This includes a commitment by Ireland to limit the increase in our net emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N4O), hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) to 13 per cent above 1990 levels in the period 2008-2012. In preparation for the June meeting I consulted with my Government colleagues in regard to Ireland's contribution to the overall EU target. The Government was aware of the findings of a consultancy study on the Limitation and Reduction of CO2 and other Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Ireland which was commissioned by my Department and the Department of Public Enterprise. The study was published on 22 June 1998 and is available in the Oireachtas Library. The Government was also aware of the November 1997 ESRI report The Costs to Ireland of Greenhouse Gas Abatement.
The published studies confirm that trends in greenhouse gas emissions vary according to the particular gases and their sectoral sources, and that with the appropriate choices of policies and measures, the target can be achieved without adverse impact on economic growth.
I have announced the preparation of a national greenhouse gas abatement strategy, to be approved by Government after widespread consultation. I am satisfied that this can be developed in a manner that reflects our continuing need for sustainable economic growth and the necessity to make an ambitious but achievable contribution to the overall EU target.
