I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 85 and 88 together.
I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 28, 56 and 60 of Thursday, 30 September, and to Question No. 16 of Thursday, 4 November.
Following the Government decision that a carbon tax would not be an appropriate policy option for the purpose of achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions, alternative policy options are being examined. This examination is focusing on non-tax measures in the national climate change strategy, with a view to achieving the necessary emissions reductions and ensuring compliance with the Kyoto Protocol. The ongoing work on the review of the national climate change strategy does not include a re-examination of carbon tax as a policy option.
Significant progress is being made towards achieving our Kyoto Protocol target to limit emissions of greenhouse gases to 13% above 1990 levels in the commitment period 2008 to 2012. Preliminary figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency in July 2004 indicate emissions in 2003 were down to 24.7% above 1990 levels, down from 29% in 2002 and 31% in 2001.