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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Feb 2002

Vol. 550 No. 1

Written Answers. - Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Willie Penrose

Question:

20 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress made regarding meeting Ireland's obligations under the Kyoto agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6981/02]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

157 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which Ireland is on target to comply with the Kyoto protocols; if he proposes measures to enhance Irelands compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7415/02]

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 20 and 157 together.

The Government's national climate change strategy, which I published in November 2000, sets a ten-year framework for achieving the necessary greenhouse gas emissions reductions to ensure that Ireland complies with the Kyoto protocol. I will bring a motion before the House shortly seeking approval to the terms of the protocol in order that Ireland may ratify it, together with all other member states and the EU.

Implementation of the national climate change strategy is being co-ordinated by a cross-departmental climate change team, chaired by my Department, which has met 15 times since January 2001. Work is under way on the development of a long-term communications strategy addressing awareness of climate change, and Comhar has prepared proposals for this. The team has established necessary consultative arrangements and will develop a robust set of indicators at sectoral and national level, oversee the quantification of costs and benefits of implementing specific measures, and undertake the biennial review of the strategy, beginning in 2002, in consultation with Comhar. The team is finalising a progress report on implementation of the strategy which I intend to publish shortly.
In so far as my Department is concerned, since August 2001, regulations require all new passenger cars for sale to be individually labelled with fuel economy and CO2 emissions. This measure is expected to reduce emissions by 380,000 tonnes CO2 per annum by 2010.
I also published consultation documents on the revision of Part L of the national building regulations in September 2001, relating to the conservation of fuel and energy, which bring forward the operative date for improved standards from 2005 to 2002. The new standards are estimated to reduce requirements for space and water heating by 23% to 33%, depending on the type and size of the dwelling, and, on current patterns of fuel use, a reduction of 300,000 tonnes CO2 per annum for 2012 is anticipated.
With regard to traffic management, in 2002, approximately €40 million is being provided to the Dublin Transportation Office in respect of traffic management grants, an increase of almost 20% on last year's provision. The year 2001 saw the launch of five new QBCs, with work continuing on further routes. Significant infrastructural provision for cycling is under way, including strategic cycleways and cycle parking spaces. Overall, implementation of the DTO strategy for the greater Dublin area, A Platform for Change, will reduce emissions by over 1 Mt of CO2 per annum by 2016, a 41% reduction on projected emissions.
Other key measures being advanced by my colleagues in Government include: the significant expansion of renewable energy, with an additional 370 MW under the AER V competition; approval of the first offshore windfarm, with a planned capacity of 520 MW; €3 billion investment in public transport under the NDP and; afforestation grants and premium rates were increased by 30% from January 2000.
Emissions of greenhouse gases in 1999 were 20.4% above 1990 levels. Preliminary data prepared by the EPA and subject to finalisation following complete analysis indicate a further increase in emissions. I am satisfied that full implementation of the national climate change strategy over the remainder of the decade will ensure that our Kyoto obligations will be fully met.
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