Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2013
159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which EU target reductions are being met here in each of the past five years to date; the areas in respect of which further improvement is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34103/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs signalled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the latest national greenhouse gas emission projections published on 25 April 2013, Ireland is on course to confirm compliance with its target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol in the commitment period 2008-2012.
Based on current projections published by the EPA in April 2013, Ireland faces a potential challenge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by some 24 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e) over the period 2013-2020 in order to comply with the legally binding requirements of EU Decision 406/2009/EC. In addressing compliance with the Decision, Ireland must follow an emissions reduction trajectory over the eight-year period and achieve an overall 20% reduction in relevant emissions by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. I am satisfied that Ireland is on course to comply with the mitigation trajectory in the first half of the compliance period. I will review progress in terms of meeting the compliance challenge in the years 2017-2020 having regard to the outcome of the on-going Programme for the development of national climate policy and legislation.
Details of Ireland’s emissions over the last 5 years were published on 15 April 2013 in the EPA’s report,“Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2011” which is available on the EPA’s website (www.epa.ie).
