Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 285: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the latest annual figures he has for the level of emissions of greenhouse gases from the transport sector here; and the projections he has for the increase or decrease in these levels over the short, medium and longer terms. [15664/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As part of the overall EU commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8% during the Kyoto Protocol period, which is between 2008 and 2012, Ireland is committed to limiting emissions to 13% above 1990 levels. The latest available greenhouse gas emissions figures from the national inventory report, which is compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency, indicate that overall emissions in 2003 were equivalent to 66.57 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. That figure is approximately 25% above 1990 levels, down from approximately 29% in 2002 and 31% in 2001. The figures show that significant progress is being made towards the 13% target. Regarding the transport sector, the national inventory report indicates that emissions for 2003 were equivalent to 11.85 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, or approximately 18% of the total of emissions for 2003.

Projections for greenhouse gas emissions, which have been calculated up to 2012, are contained in the 2004 ICF-Byrne Ó Cléirigh study, Determining the Share of National Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Emissions Trading in Ireland. The study shows that expected emissions from the transport sector for 2004 are equivalent to 11.96 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is a projected marginal increase on the outturn for 2003. The average annual projected emissions for the transport sector over the Kyoto commitment period are expected to be equivalent to 13.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The national climate change strategy identifies a range of policies and measures to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions in various sectors. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is reviewing the strategy, taking account of developments since its publication in 2000. While the Department has overall responsibility for the strategy, it is a matter for Departments with direct responsibility for each sector identified in the strategy to implement the optimum mix of policies and measures to control and reduce Ireland's overall level of greenhouse gas emissions.