Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the impact for his projections of the need to purchase carbon credit in view of the new EU agreement to cut emissions by 20% on 1990 levels by 2020. [10197/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 102, 147 and 183 of 27 February 2007.

At its Spring meeting this year, the European Council endorsed the need for developed countries to collectively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in the order of 30% by 2020 compared to 1990. It also agreed that until a global and comprehensive post-2012 agreement is concluded, the EU should adopt an independent commitment to achieve at least a 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990.

The process of breaking down the 20% commitment and allocating a 2020 target to each Member State has not yet commenced. Therefore, it is too early to give an accurate indication of the likely 2020 target for Ireland or any Member State.

The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 presents two indicative scenarios based, respectively, on a 20% and 30% reduction, and assuming that the further cut required of Ireland, in comparison to its Kyoto target, is pro-rata to that of the EU as a whole. Under those assumptions, further emissions reduction of between 9 million and 16 million tonnes would be required by 2020.

It is also too early to estimate the extent to which the Government may opt to use carbon credits to supplement domestic greenhouse gas emission reduction measures in the period post-2012.