Vol. 496 No. 3
328 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will report on the progress made since the Kyoto conference on climate change in December 1997 to ensure that Ireland meets its emissions reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22793/98]
I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 59 and 301 of 13 October 1998.
As indicated, action is ongoing on a range of measures currently in place to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. These measures are outlined in detail in Ireland's second national communication under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCCI.
On 28 October 1998, my Department and the Department of Public Enterprise held a consultative forum for those who made submissions on the consultancy study on the "Limitation and Reduction of CO 2 and other Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Ireland". The submissions made, and the wide-ranging discussion at the forum, will be utilised in the development of the national greenhouse gas abatement strategy which is now in preparation.
329 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will report on trends in relation to greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22794/98]
Figures for 1996, prepared by the EPA based on official Government data such as national energy statistics and other activity data, show that the net increase for the greenhouse gas emissions, covered by the Kyoto Protocol, from 1990 was 3.9 per cent. Official data also show that the increase in CO 2 emissions alone from 1990 was 13.3 per cent. Data on emissions trends and projections are included in Ireland's second national communication under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and in the consultancy study, Limitation and Reduction of CO 2 and other Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Ireland. Copies of both publications are available in the Oireachtas Library.
