Vol. 510 No. 6
55 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions; and the way in which he will reduce this output in view of the economy's rapid growth. [22201/99]
I refer to the reply to Question No. 64 on 5 October 1999, which, while indicating greenhouse gas emissions growth to the end of 1997, emphasised that all EU member state targets, within the overall EU reduction target of 8 per cent under the Kyoto Protocol, were developed on the basis that they would represent a substantial reduction on business as usual scenarios.
A national greenhouse gas abatement strategy, now at an advanced stage of preparation and subject to consideration by Comhar, the national sustainable development partnership, will provide a framework for meeting Ireland's Kyoto target. The strategy will build on existing greenhouse gas mitigation measures in economic sectors, identify additional policies and measures for all sectors, and be complemented by further common and co-ordinated policies and measures across the EU.
