Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the contribution Ireland proposes to make as a result of the Copenhagen conference; if there is a united European Union proposal regarding carbon offsetting over the coming decades; the details of the proposal and the financial contribution Ireland will be expected to make. [46852/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Ireland will make a positive contribution to the successful implementation of the Copenhagen Accord, while maintaining efforts to strengthen it. Our contribution will be reflected, inter alia, in the emission reduction pledge which the European Union will make before the end of this month for the purposes of Appendix I of the Accord, and in the international financial support to assist developing countries in addressing climate change. The Government has already announced a contribution of up to €100 million for fast start financial support in the three-year period 2010 to 2012.

Reducing global greenhouse gas emissions to a safe level is key to the success of the 1992 Climate Change Convention. As a contribution to that objective, the EU has adopted an independent commitment to achieve a 20% reduction in emissions by 2020 compared to 1990. In addition, the EU has signalled its willingness, as part of a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012, to move to a 30% reduction target subject to other Parties committing to appropriate action. This policy position will inform the final EU pledge for the purposes of the Copenhagen Accord and Ireland will accept its fair share of that burden.

The EU recognises the importance of the carbon market in achieving global mitigation objectives in a cost-efficient manner. EU priorities for development of the carbon market include reform of existing Kyoto Protocol mechanisms and the creation of new sector-specific mechanisms. The financial cost of engaging in offsetting in the future will be determined by the extent to which Ireland decides to avail of market options.