Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the challenging EU 20% reduction target, he will update and redraft the National Climate Change Strategy to take into account this new target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27689/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Since the publication of the National Climate Change Strategy, work has continued across Government Departments on the development of further measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. I reported on these when I presented the Carbon Budget in December 2007 and this will be updated each year.

The National Climate Change Strategy was focused primarily on the achievement of our targets for the Kyoto period, 2008-2012, and included a commitment to prepare a new Strategy for the post-Kyoto period when our target for that period had been finalised on foot of the international negotiations on a new global agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. My hope is that, in the context of a new international agreement, the EU will be in a position to adopt a 30% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2020. Ireland's target will then be agreed within the EU's effort-sharing of its overall commitment.

Under the direction of the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, Departments have intensified their work on developing measures both for the Kyoto period and the longer-term; in that respect work towards a new National Climate Change Strategy is already underway.