Mervyn Taylor
Ceist:35 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for the Environment the steps he is taking to prevent or reduce the greenhouse effect on the climate and associated conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Global Warming.
Fergus O'Brien
Ceist:49 Mr. O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment whether Ireland subscribes to the 1988 Toronto Declaration of the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions; and whether Ireland is on course to achieve such reductions.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 49 together.
Global warming, or the "greenhouse effect", is a global problem and requires international action if it is to be solved. The Toronto Declaration referred to in Question No. 49 relates to a conference of non-governmental organisations held in Toronto in 1988, which,inter alia, called for the development of an action plan for the protection of the atmosphere and made recommendations to Governments for specific action in a number of areas. In dealing with this global problem, the European Community has a vital role to play and has developed an action plan in a European context for dealing with the issue. The Commission is currently preparing proposals for action by the Community in relation to climate change, and Ireland will seek to use its Presidency of the Community to ensure that a strong position is adopted on this issue, particularly in the lead up to the Second World Conference on Climate Change, to be held next November and which will consider appropriate global response measures.
Carbon dioxide emissions account for about 50 per cent of "greenhouse gases" and energy conservation is considered to be the most effective short-term contribution the developed world can make towards reducing these emissions. At national level, a number of initiatives are being taken in this regard. The Government's environment action programme announced that an additional £500,000 will be made available to the Department of Energy this year for a major energy conservation programme, and I understand that that Department is currently considering the format for such a campaign, with a view to its introduction at an early date.
I understand also that the Department of Energy is currently carrying out energy audits on departmental and Eolas buildings to ensure that these are energy efficient and it is hoped that the benefits demonstrated will encourage other State and semi-State bodies to introduce appropriate energy efficient management. That Department has also targeted for audit the medium-sized industrial sectors which consume over 50 per cent of industrial energy, namely the food, drinks and chemical industries.
As announced in the environment action programme, thermal insulation standards and the range of buildings to which they apply will be reviewed with a view to further reducing the amount of energy consumed on space heating.
Apart from these energy conservation measures, the use of natural gas to meet part of our energy requirements has already meant that CO emissions in this country are not as great as they would otherwise be.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) account for another 20 — 25 per cent of the greenhouse effect and Ireland is participating in international action to reduce production and consumption of these substances through the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The protocol contains measures to control the production and use of the more destructive CFCs and halons and was concluded in 1987. Proposals to further strengthen the Montreal Protocol are currently being developed and will be considered when the parties to the protocol meet in London next June. At that meeting, the Irish Presidency will work towards a strengthening of the protocol, with the aim of achieving the elimination of the production and use of CFCs and halons as quickly as possible.
The Government has also, in the environmental action programme, set aside a sum of £200,000 in 1990 for the purpose of commissioning expert studies to establish the specific implications of possible climate change for Ireland. Proposals in this regard are being developed. The studies will enable the development of further appropriate response measures and strategies.