Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Environmental Policy

9:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 876: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to achieve European targets in respect of carbon emission reduction; if he will report on the Copenhagen Conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1401/10]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In the period 2008-2012, Ireland will meet its target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol through a series of national measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supplemented as necessary by the purchase of carbon units on the international market. Government policy in this regard is set out in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2013.

Since 2007, the Government has introduced a number of measures, including the carbon levy, aimed at reducing domestic emissions across the economy. In addition to ensuring compliance with Kyoto Protocol obligations, these measures constitute important preparations for more stringent emission reduction requirements in the post-2012 period, initially to 2020 but ultimately to 2050. The planned Climate Change Bill 2010, the Heads of which I intend to publish before the end of the first quarter of 2010, will provide a statutory framework for the core longer-term national priority of addressing climate change in the context of transition to a sustainable, low carbon economy.

The 2009 UN Climate Change Conference (the Copenhagen Summit) took place from 7 to 18 December. An international framework for climate change mitigation in the period beyond 2012 was the primary objective for the Summit, and the EU sought a global, ambitious, comprehensive and legally-binding treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol when its five-year commitment period ends on 31 December 2012.

While the Copenhagen Accord falls short of EU expectations in a number of respects, there are important positive elements, including recognition of the scientific advice on the need to limit the increase in global temperature to within 2oC of pre-industrial levels. Other positive elements include a commitment to providing financial support for developing countries, including a fast-start mechanism; the requirement for nationally appropriate mitigation actions by developing countries to be measurable, reportable and verifiable; the establishment of a mechanism to support action against deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. The final outcome of the Copenhagen Summit will not be known until Parties confirm their commitments for the purposes of Appendix I and II to the Accord. The EU is currently considering its greenhouse gas emissions reduction pledge for the purposes of Appendix I. The level of actions to which Parties commit themselves will determine the final outcome of the Copenhagen conference and provide the background for preparations for the 16th Conference of the Parties in Cancun, Mexico in November 2009.

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