Written Answers. - Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Deirdre Clune
Ceist:
103
Ms Clune
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the steps, if any, he has taken to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions will be within the restricted levels as agreed by 2010; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that predictions by the ESRI state that carbon dioxide will be 56% over 1990 emission levels by 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1683/00]
Austin Deasy
Ceist:
137
Mr. Deasy
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
if Ireland is on course to achieve a reduction in the emission of carbon gases in line with EU guidelines; and the positive measures, if any, his Department is taking in this regard.
[1743/00]
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:
140
Mr. Rabbitte
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the greenhouse gas growth limitations which Ireland has adopted under the Kyoto protocol; the progress, if any, made in reaching these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1598/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 137 and 140 together.
Ireland's target under the Kyoto Protocol is to limit the increase in emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases to 13% above 1990 levels in the period 2008-12. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the greenhouse gases concerned, and I am aware of projections for increases of up to 59.5% in emissions of CO2 above 1990 levels by 2010, balanced by projections for lower increases in emissions of other greenhouse gases. This implies a net increase in overall emissions, on a business as usual basis, in the range 36.5% to 40%. These projections are being re-examined, including in relation to CO2, prior to finalisation of the national greenhouse gas abatement strategy for Government approval.
Effective policies are being developed to ensure that Ireland will meet our Kyoto target. Measures previously put in place to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, transport, residential, industrial, agricultural, waste and commercial sectors were outlined in detail in Ireland's second national communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Since the preparation of this report in July 1997, there have been a number of further policy developments which,inter alia, address climate change.
For purposes of the preparation of a national greenhouse gas abatement strategy to meet Ireland's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol, a consultancy study on the limitation and reduction of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland was published by my Department and the Department of Public Enterprise in June 1998, as a basis for public consultation. Subsequently, the two Departments held a discussion forum for interested bodies, organisations and individuals who made submissions on the report. The submissions made, and the wide-ranging discussion at the forum, were utilised in the development of a draft national greenhouse gas abatement strategy.
Last autumn, I invited Comhar, the National Sustainable Development Partnerships to consider and make recommendations on the draft strategy. Work is now proceeding as a priority within my Department, with appropriate interdepartmental input through the green network of Government Departments, to finalise the strategy for Government approval, having regard to the views of Comhar and other developments including the recent green paper on sustainable energy published by the Department of Public Enterprise.
As part of the development of an overall policy to ensure that Ireland meets its Kyoto target, I also established a consultation group on greenhouse gas emissions trading to assess greenhouse gas emissions trading as it affects Irish policy formation. The group is, in addition, examining the option of a domestic emissions trading market, and the implications for Ireland of an international trading regime.
In April 1999, I received an interim report from the group concerning the formulation of an overall EU policy regarding the use of concrete ceilings on the amount of greenhouse gases that can be traded under the Kyoto flexibility mechanisms, including international emissions trading. A copy of this interim report, together with my response to it, are in the Oireachtas Library.
I understand that the group is now preparing its main report and I hope to receive it as early as possible in 2000.
