John Gormley
Question:249 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the question of climate change has arisen in recent meetings with other governments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23274/02]
Written Answers. - Climate Change.
The issue of climate change was discussed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg during August and September 2002, at which the Irish delegation was led by the Taoiseach.
One of the main outcomes of the summit was an agreed plan of implementation. This reflects the concerns that all countries, particularly developing countries including the least developed countries and small island developing states, face increased risks of negative impacts of climate change; acknowledges the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCC, is the key instrument for addressing climate change, and recalls the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in which Heads of State and Government resolved to make every effort to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCC. Under the plan of implementation, states that have ratified the protocol strongly urge states that have not already done so to ratify it in a timely manner. The full text of the plan of implementation is available at: www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/
summit–docs/2309–planfinal.doc
John Gormley
Question:250 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in view of the recent floods, the Government will take a greater interest in climate change and make it more of a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23203/02]
Climate change is internationally recognised as the most significant and threatening global environmental problem. While individual weather events cannot be ascribed to climate change, it is clear that Ireland will not be immune to the likely overall negative impacts. Meeting our obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, through full implementation of the national climate change strategy, is a priority for Government identified in An Agreed Programme for Government.
I have initiated a review of implementation of the strategy and I am satisfied that its full implementation over the remainder of the decade, together with any additional measures identified in the review, will ensure our obligations under the protocol are fully met. The reply to Question No. 5 on 28 November 2002 provides information on initiatives on flooding.