Vol. 462 No. 5
142 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for the Environment the impact, if any, of global warming on Ireland over the last five years; the implications for Ireland if the current trend continues; the proposals, if any, he has for Ireland to counteract the causes of global warming; and the initiatives, if any, he proposes to reduce global warming for the European Union during Ireland's Presidency. [5016/96]
A study of the possible impacts of climate change in Ireland has been published by my Department and is available in the Oireachtas Library. National policies and measures to contribute to the mitigation of climate change have been set out in the National CO 2 Abatement Strategy of 1993 and the National Communication under the Framework Convention Climate Change of 1994. These address a number of areas including energy, transport, forestry, and waste management.
Specific measures which have been developed involve promotion of energy conservation and efficiency under the co-ordination of the newly established Irish Energy Centre: promotion of renewable energy sources; demand wide management measures by ESB; improved urban transportation arrangements; increased waste recycling; and an ambitious programme of afforestation to improve such capacity. It is intended to publish an updated national climate change strategy later this year.
As regards the EU and international dimension, I intend that the Irish Presidency will provide active co-ordination of the EU position on climate change at the Second Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention in Geneva in July 1996, and subsequently, with a view to strengthening the provisions of the convention in relation to the post-2000 period.
