Press Release: Environment    20  March 2006

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Dún Laoghaire, Environment and Justice Press Releases

Greens call for new Climate Change Strategy

As reports indicate that Government will have to pay between €500 million and a €1 billion under our Kyoto commitments

The Green Party has called on the Government to introduce a new National Climate Change Strategy as reports indicate that the Government will have to pay between €500 million and a €1 billion under our Kyoto commitments. 

A consultants’ report presented to the Minister for the Environment has indicated that meeting Ireland’s Kyoto commitments for the years 2008 to 2012 could cost up to €1 billion.

Green Party spokesperson on Environment Ciarán Cuffe said:

“The Government’s failure to deal with our international commitments on climate change will cost Irish taxpayers and Irish businesses dearly. The National Climate Change Strategy is out of date and a review promised by the end of 2005 has not yet materialised.

“The Government has its head in the sand on this issue. It should be tightening up the Building Regulations, investing in public transport, and planning new communities around the needs of people, rather than cars. Instead it is allowing emissions to increase, and is failing to introduce a climate change levy. Such a charge would ensure that the polluters, rather than the public pick up the tab for climate change. It would reward efficiency and penalise polluters.

“To date there is very little evidence to suggest that this Government has the will or the means to reduce our national green house gas emissions.

 “Ireland’s Greenhouse emissions for 2004 were 23.5 per cent higher than in 1990. From now on there are going to be big financial penalties for Ireland or any other country that has signed up to Kyoto yet allows emissions to increase year after year.

“Up until now Dick Roche has been saying that Ireland will meets its Kyoto commitments by buying carbon credits. It is becoming clear that this Government’s climate change strategy has done little to help the environment and will cost us dearly.

“The price of carbon credits is only going to increase. The smart option is to penalise those who contribute the most emissions, and pass the benefits on to those who are contributing less to climate change.”