Don Lydon (Fianna Fail)

When this side of the House puts down a motion we praise the Government and when the Opposition puts down a motion it condemns the Government. This is an important motion because it concerns not just a part of Dublin, Leinster or Ireland, but the whole world. In one way I am glad the motion has been put down because it will contribute in some way to what Senator McDowell called for, a genuine public debate. The issue is important because it affects the lives of everybody throughout the world.

It has been said that we have not decoupled growth from emissions, but Ireland has successfully decoupled greenhouse gas emissions from economic growth. From 1990 to 2004 emissions increased by 23%, whereas our economy increased by almost 150%. This is reflected in the emissions intensity of the Irish economy. In 2004, emissions per unit of GDP were 48% of the 1990 level and the equivalent figure for the EU 15 was 78%.

We will meet our Kyoto Protocol target of cutting emissions by 15 million tonnes per year, 13% above the 1990 limits. This will be achieved by a number of measures. For example, action by Irish firms, some 109 installations in total, already participating in the EU emissions trading scheme amounts to 3 million tonnes per annum. Action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the rest of the economy, including agriculture, forestry and transport amounts to 8 million tonnes per annum.

Investment in clean technology to ensure emission reductions in developing countries in return for carbon credits to offset against our emissions is explicitly provided for in the Kyoto Protocol and was supported in the Stern report. That amounts to a saving of 3.6 million tonnes. The purchase of carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol is very important for developing countries in terms of access to clean energy technology.

Climate change is a global problem and a tonne of emissions saved in the developing world is the same as a tonne of emissions saved in Ireland. This approach has been supported by the Stern report and the UN and the Government is prepared to purchase up to 3.6 million carbon allowances per year during the 2008-12 period. Our approach will help Ireland achieve its Kyoto target on a cost efficient basis, protect competitiveness and jobs and support developing and emerging nations.

Ireland has a high level of greenhouse gas emissions per capita. In 2004, the figure was at 17 tonnes compared to the EU average of 11 tonnes. Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Luxembourg had higher per capita CO2 emissions than Ireland. There are reasons for Ireland's figure, such as our heavy reliance on fossil fuels for power generation. In 2004, renewable energy met only 5.2% of electricity needs. The energy Green Paper commits us to reach 30% by 2020, which we will do in our fourth term of office.