Vol. 513 No. 1
563 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether there is an urgent need to initiate an information campaign on global warming, following the example of other EU states, which would increase the public's understanding of the planet's biggest environmental problem and make people more amenable to the political changes required to deal with this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26695/99]
565 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to run a campaign to increase awareness regarding global warming in Ireland similar to campaigns in other EU states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1790/00]
I propose to take Question Nos. 563 and 565 together
I announced details on 10 December last of a significant new national environmental awareness campaign to encourage individual and shared responsibility in caring for the environment. The campaign will address specific environmental themes, including climate change. Its aim is to assist people in identifying and pursuing more environmentally sustainable behaviour so that action at individual and community levels fully reflects public concern about the environment. Under the overall theme "The Environment, It's Easy to Make a Difference", awareness raising initiatives at national and local levels will be undertaken on a systematic and sustained basis throughout the year.
I will be ensuring that specific attention is paid to climate change in the context of the publication by Government and the implementation of the national greenhouse gas abatement strategy.
