Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 48: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way he intends to meet EU and UN targets to tackle climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6659/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

For the purposes of the Kyoto protocol, Ireland is committed to limiting average annual greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2008-2012 to 13% above 1990 levels. On foot of the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 , Ireland will meet its target through a series of national measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supplemented, as necessary, by the purchase of carbon units on the international market.

Under the December 2008 Effort Sharing Decision, which establishes annual binding greenhouse gas emission targets for Member States for the period 2013 - 2020, Ireland must achieve a 20% reduction, relative to 2005 levels, in greenhouse gas emissions in the non-traded sector of the economy by 2020 - this covers areas such as transport, agriculture, the residential sector and waste management. Emissions in the traded sector of the economy are being addressed through the separate EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

I have asked my Department to undertake a review of Ireland's climate-related policies and measures in light of existing and anticipated national greenhouse gas mitigation targets for the period to 2020. The outcome of this review, to be completed within 3 months, will underpin the development of future climate policy in support of the achievement of our targets. Ireland will also be engaging closely with efforts to secure agreement on a legally binding international treaty at UN level and with developments on foot of the recently published low carbon economy roadmap to 2050 adopted by the European Commission, taking particular account of the implications that may arise in terms of more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.