28 February 2006

Environment

Carbon Emissions

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Ireland will advocate the inclusion in the EU submission to the UNFCC on Article 3.9 of the Kyoto Protocol, currently being drafted by the Austrian Presidency, the proposal that industrialised countries consider emissions cuts of 60-80% by 2050 as proposed by him and his counterparts at their Council meeting in March 2005.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche):
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): The EU submission on Article 3.9 of the Kyoto Protocol has not yet been finalised. Officials from my Department are participating in ongoing discussions on the matter. The submission is likely to include a broad outline of the EU position on climate change as articulated in the conclusions of the Council of the European Union from its meeting of environment Ministers on 10 March 2005, and the meeting of Heads of State and Government later the same month.