Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

The overrun on Leaders' Questions is symptomatic of other overruns. Global warming is an issue regularly raised in the newspapers. The Irish Times today tells us that in 30 years time, losses from droughts, hurricanes and floods could cost up to €800 billion annually. This is a level of impact that I do not think the Taoiseach appreciates. I do not know if the Taoiseach has read the Stern report, which has predicted a loss of 5% of global GDP per annum unless severe cuts in greenhouse gases are agreed and implemented. Otherwise, the economy and the environment will suffer beyond anything we can currently imagine. Already, the World Health Organisation tells us that 150,000 people are dying annually because of climate change.

Kofi Annan has today said that if we cut greenhouse gases the planet can cope. Perhaps that gives the Taoiseach some hope. However, Mr. Annan has also said it will cost less to cut greenhouse gas emissions now than it will to cope with the effect of them in the future. Does the Taoiseach agree? Does he agree we are facing our biggest economic and security challenges? Of course, this is also a massive social, development and human rights issue and poses major problems for biodiversity. It is the biggest challenge the global community has ever faced.

Last March the European commissioner for the environment identified climate change as a greater threat than terrorism. When I asked the Taoiseach about that he helpfully told me he was not responsible for the planet, nor was he responsible for everything that will happen between now and the end of the century. In the meantime, the Taoiseach has signed up to 15%-30% cuts in greenhouse gases for the EU, with the objective of going below 1990 levels by 2020. Those are cuts for the EU as a whole. Will the Taoiseach agree to a minimum 15% cut below 1990 levels by 2020 for Ireland? A "yes" or "no" will suffice.

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