Vol. 555 No. 1
35 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress made to date in implementing the targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions agreed by Ireland under the Kyoto Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17345/02]
49 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the amount of carbon dioxide emissions released by Ireland for each of the past five years; and the targets expected to be reached in carbon dioxide emissions under the Kyoto Agreement. [17010/02]
281 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the policy measures adopted since publication of the national climate change strategy to achieve the overall total reduction of 15.415 Mt CO2 equivalent under 24 different quantified subheadings in the executive summary of the strategy; if he has satisfied himself that progress has been made under each of the 24 headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17669/02]
319 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which Ireland is on target to comply with the Kyoto Protocol; if he proposes measures to enhance Ireland's compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17715/02]
337 Mr. Allen 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. [17742/02]
364 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress made to date regarding meeting obligations under the Kyoto Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17772/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 49, 281, 319, 337 and 364 together.
Ireland's obligation under the Kyoto Protocol is to limit emissions of a basket of greenhouse gases, of which carbon dioxide, CO2, is the principal component at about 65%, to an increase of 13% above our 1990 baseline by the commitment period 2008-2012, namely, 60.9 million tonnes, Mt, CO2 equivalent above 1990 emissions of 53.9 Mt CO2 equivalent. In each year from 1996 to 2000, greenhouse gas emissions have been 59.2, 61.8, 64.1, 65.9 and 67 Mt CO2 equivalent respectively. Preliminary data for 2001 are being prepared by the EPA and, subject to finalisation following complete analysis, indicate a further increase in emissions.
The Government's national climate change strategy, 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 Protocolumn Ireland together with all other member states of the EU ratified the Kyoto Protocol on 31 May 2002. In parallel with ratification, the first progress report on implementation of the national climate change strategy was published. This details measures, across sectors, implemented or in the course of implementation under the strategy. Measures already under way in the first year are capable of yielding reductions of up to 3.3 Mt CO2 equivalent of the 13.1 Mt CO2 equivalent reductions required below the business as usual projections in the national climate change strategy.
Implementation of the national climate change strategy is being co-ordinated by a cross-departmental climate change team, chaired by my Department. The team has recently initiated the first biennial review of the strategy, to be undertaken in consultation with Comhar and finalised by spring of 2003. The national climate change strategy and progress report are available in the Oireachtas Library.
I am satisfied that full implementation of the national climate change strategy over the remainder of the decade, together with any additional measures which may be identified in the review, will ensure that our Kyoto obligations are fully met by the commitment period.
