Mr. David Healy:

Our position has always been that emissions trading is important, but insufficient, and this ties in with the European view. There is a trading system within the emissions trading sector, but there are also renewable energy and energy efficiency targets. Multiple approaches are aimed at the same goal. Europe is discussing what to plan for the 2030 targets, having adopted the 2020 targets. With the rest of the European environmental movement, we will argue that multiple targets are necessary and that it would not be good enough to leave it at just one target.

It is important to point out that many European countries are not finding it difficult to meet their 2020 targets. Many did not enter into the discussions on 2020 targets with a view to doing as little as possible. Quite a few set their own targets and were happy to include those in the European mix. The situation does not have to be viewed in the negative compliance fashion found in Ireland, where it is a question of the least that people can do.

The points on afforestation and bogs were important. When we afforest on peatlands – unfortunately, approximately 40% of our forestry is on peatland – it does not have the positive carbon benefit being claimed. UCD’s major boglands study in recent years provides a good roadmap for what we should be doing. When the drained bogs and the three peat power plants are taken into account, our bogs emit 9 million tonnes per year, which is more than housing. The drained bogs and the power plants have approximately the same impact at between 4 million and 5 million tonnes. A programme of restoration of the drained bogs that stopped those emissions would make a significant difference to our climate work.

These factors are not counted in our report to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC. One can get environmental credits if one stops draining a bog in Indonesia, as one can fall under the REDD-Plus scheme, but it would not be counted in Ireland. Under the agreement to be reached in 2015, the intention is to cover all emissions. This is what the negotiators are working towards.

We must move ahead by considering the ultimate objective. From Ireland’s point of view, it is not just a question of complying with the detail of the rules, but of what is good for the climate. An effective international agreement must be as all-encompassing as possible. On that basis, we should prioritise carbon sequestration policies and protect carbon stores. The first item on that list is protecting and restoring bogs.