Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 3

Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

326 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in relation to the conference of the parties to the climate change convention in Buenos Aires, he will support the call from the Africa group for an agreed programme to ensure that, after a transitional period, no nation emits more than its fair share of a safe global limit for greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22791/98]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

327 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether he supports proposals to be put before the conference of the parties to the climate change convention in Buenos Aires, to raise money from global sources such as a levy on aviation fuel to generate new and additional resources for ecologically sustainable development in less industrialised nations as required by the framework convention on climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22792/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together.

I am not aware of a proposal to be put before the conference of the parties to the climate change convention to raise money from specific global sources for ecologically sustainable development in less industrialised nations.

My approach at the fourth conference of the parties to the UN Framework on Climate Change, UNFCCCI, in Buenos Aires will be in line with the EU position, that is, we are committed to making substantial progress on the outstanding issues both under the convention and under the Kyoto Protocol in order to maintain the momentum of Kyoto. In this regard, the EU has indicated its readiness to address important issues under the convention, in particular those that are of interest to developing countries.