Press Release: Environment 4 January 2007

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Green Party calls on Government to offset flight emissions for civil servants

The Green Party has today called on the Irish Government to offset emissions from civil servants’ air travel by buying carbon credits.  The call comes on foot of the recent announcement of the Norwegian Prime Minister that his government will buy carbon credits  for the emissions caused by air travel made by state employees.   

Green Party Environment spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said “I am calling on the Irish Government to follow the lead that the Norwegian Government has taken recently.  Irish civil servants travel regularly by plane to attend meetings in Brussels, Geneva, New York and elsewhere.  Under such a scheme the government would buy credits to be invested in projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   

“This should focus attention on alternatives to air travel such as tele-conferencing, or surface travel where appropriate. The Green Party’s view is where emissions cannot be reduced, carbon offsetting is an appropriate mechanism to reduce the impact of such travel on climate change.   

“The Green Party has already committed to offset carbon emissions from flights made by representatives of the Party while on Party business.”    

Note:   

The Irish Green Party purchases carbon credits using the Swiss organisation www.myclimate.org