Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 4

Written Answers. - Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Mary Harney

Ceist:

135 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he has taken or proposes to take to reduce or minimise emissions of gases which cause global warming, in accordance with the 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change. [19536/96]

John Ellis

Ceist:

155 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment the measures, if any, planned for the near future or already in force, which are designed to reduce Ireland's emissions of greenhouse gases; whether the Government will provide evidence that these measures will ensure that no more greenhouse gases are produced in the year 2000 than in 1990; and if further reductions are envisaged. [19300/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 155 together.

National policies and measures for the limitation of greenhouse gas emissions are set out in the National CO 2 Abatement Strategy and the National Communication under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC; copies of these documents are in the Oireachtas Library.

The principal measures designed to support the objectives of Irish climate change policy are: intensified promotion of energy conservation and of alternative/renewable energy management policies; demand side management of electricity consumption; improved insulation standards for new buildings; improved public transport and traffic management policies and increased afforestation.

The UNFCCC allows that, among developed countries, there will be differences in starting points, approaches, economic structures and resource bases and that there is a need for equitable and appropriate contributions by developed country parties to the convention. Similarly, EU policy acknowledges that certain member states, including Ireland, are entitled to have CO 2 targets and/or strategies corresponding to their economic and social development, while improving the energy efficiency of their economic activities.

In according with these considerations, Ireland's national policy is based on the objective of limiting CO 2 emissions in the year 2000 to not more than 20 per cent above their 1990 level. Provisional estimates are that CO 2 emissions in 1995 were 10.45 per cent higher than in 1990; this indicates that the limitation target is within reach, despite considerably higher economic growth than was originally foreseen.