Written answers

Wednesday, 15 February 2006

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

9:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the level of emission of carbon dioxide here for each of the past five years; the top ten highest producers of CO2 emissions for the years in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5836/06]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The EPA is responsible for the collation and publication of inventories of greenhouse gas emissions, which are prepared on an annual basis pursuant to UN and EU obligations. Table 1 sets out the published figures for both carbon dioxide and total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding absorption of greenhouse gases from land-use and forestry, for each of the five most recent years for which figures have been published, together with increases on 1990 emissions in percentage terms.

Table 1 — Emissions for the past five years
Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
CO2 Emissions (Kt) 42,133.27 44,159.74 46,460.47 45,808.14 44,449.95
Total Emissions (Kt CO2 equivalent) 66,888.81 68,968.25 70,741.77 69,384.50 67,554.47
Percentage above 1990 23.92% 27.77% 31.06% 28.55% 25.16%

I understand the EPA will shortly publish information on greenhouse gas emissions in 2004 and revised greenhouse gas emissions data from 1990 to 2003. The revised data will be based on a number of improvements in both the methodologies and data used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions, which have recently been adopted by EPA.

The ten highest emitting installations of carbon dioxide for 2003, the latest year for which verified emissions figures are available, are listed in Table 2. All of the listed installations are participating in the EU emissions trading scheme and therefore have had their emissions capped from 2005 onwards.

Table 2: Top ten highest producers of CO2 emissions
Installation CO2 emissions (tonne)
ESB — Moneypoint 5,430,607
ESB — Poolbeg 2,125,326
CRH plc (Irish Cement Platin) 1,417,631
Aughinish Alumina 1,067,406
Huntstown Power Company Ltd. 1,019,763
Quinn Cement Ltd. 937,124
ESB — Tarbert 935,883
Synergen (Dublin Bay Power Plant) 919,500
CRH plc (Irish Cement Limerick) 811,471
Edenderry Power Ltd. 810,680

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress by his Department in making arrangements to meet Ireland's international commitments on greenhouse gases and gases that contribute to the problem of acid rain; the fundamental changes that his Department regards as a priority arising from the meeting of these international commitments; his programme of implementation of such change to meet these international commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5851/06]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is committed, pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol, to limiting growth in greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels in the 2008 to 2012 commitment period. In 2003, the latest year for which published figures are available, Ireland's emissions were approximately 25% above the 1990 level. I also refer to the reply to Question No. 330 on today's Order Paper.

The national climate change strategy provides the basis for Government policy and action to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the most efficient and equitable manner and for ensuring that Ireland meets its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. While my 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.

Among the measures that will facilitate reduced emissions of greenhouse gases are higher standards of energy conservation provided for in the building regulations, the development of planning guidelines on wind energy and reducing emissions from waste facilities. Progress is also demonstrated in more efficient power generation plants, support for renewable energy, improvements in public transport, tax incentives for more fuel-efficient cars and for the introduction of biofuels.

A review of the national climate change strategy has been under way in my Department to assess progress in its implementation and to identify possible additional measures for Ireland to meet its Kyoto Protocol target in the most cost effective way. I intend shortly to publish this review as a consultation document which will inform the preparation of a revised strategy.

A portion of Ireland's Kyoto target will also be achieved through emissions reductions by installations participating in the EU emissions trading scheme. This scheme commenced in 2005 on a pilot basis and will continue throughout the Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008 to 2012. The Government will also avail of the flexible mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol, which will allow it to meet part of its obligation by purchasing credits for carbon reductions sufficient to address any shortfall. The necessary institutional arrangements for the purchase of credits by the State are currently being put in place. They include the recent announcement by the Minister for Finance, in the context of budget 2006, of the designation of the National Treasury Management Agency as the purchasing agent for the State and the provision of an initial €20 million in 2006 to fund the purchase of credits.

In April 2005, the Government approved a national programme on transboundary pollutants for the progressive reduction of national emissions of transboundary pollutants by 2010. The pollutants concerned — sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia — contribute to acidification, eutrophication and ground level ozone. The National Emission Ceilings Regulations 2004 specify emission ceilings for the above four pollutants to be achieved by 2010. A number of measures which would tie in with the achievement of the ceilings were already being actively pursued under existing and planned legislation and policies, including cleaner fuels and vehicles, integrated pollution control licensing, organic solvent emissions reduction and a voluntary agreement with the solid fuel industry.

My Department has also submitted a national emission reduction plan for large-combustion plants to the European Commission. The plan, under Directive No. 2001/80/EC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants from large combustion plants, requires significant reductions of emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from older ESB power plants and boilers in Aughinish Alumina from 2008.

The 2005 national programme sets out a number of significant developments in policies and measures in various sectors since 2003. A downward trend in emissions since 2001 is projected to continue to 2010, although it is clear that the nitrogen oxides ceiling in Directive No. 2001/81/EC on national ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants presents significant challenges for Ireland, including the possibility that measures to achieve it could be disproportionately costly. The directive is due to be reviewed by the European Commission in 2006, taking into account the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution, published by the Commission in September 2005.

This strategy significantly updates EU policy on air quality. It takes a medium perspective to 2020 and aims to cut the annual number of premature deaths from air pollution-related diseases by almost 40% by 2020, from the 2000 level, while also substantially reducing the area of forests and other ecosystems suffering damage from airborne pollutants. The national programme, which will be updated in 2006, recognises the synergies between reducing transboundary pollutants and the measures under the national climate change strategy.

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