Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

The climate change conference is taking place this week in Durban. While considerable attention is being paid to the economic situation in Europe at present, which is very important, in light of Dr. Mary Robinson's comments last week about the need to address climate change in a global forum, it would be useful for us to focus on the issue in the new year. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, will travel to Durban this week. These talks are in preparation for the ending of the Kyoto Protocol which will expire at the end of 2012. Although the EU only accounts for 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is important for us to play a strong role in these talks. Last week Dr. Robinson told us that by 2050 Africa will have doubled its population. It behoves all of us to prepare for our children's and grandchildren's future and the type of world in which they will live. It is a very important forum for us and this House should focus on it in the new year.