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A commitment by Environment Minister Phil Hogan that the
heads of a Climate Change Bill would be introduced before
the end of this year has been welcomed by the Oireachtas Committee
on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Committee chairman Ciarán Lynch TD (Labour) said - “We are
heartened by the Minister’s commitment ... to provide a road
map for the introduction of climate change legislation and
welcome his pledge to introduce the Heads of the Climate Change
Bill by the end of 2012.”
He said the road map would provide “clear and measurable
goals” to enable Ireland to meet EU targets for a 20 per cent
cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. “The Minister’s commitment
is a major step forward in this country’s efforts ... to combat
climate change.”
Mr Lynch said the Minister’s appearance before the committee
last month led to a “very frank, useful and engaging meeting”
and its members would continue to work with the Minister “in
helping to formulate policy on this very important issue”.
In his presentation, Mr Hogan outlined details of the agreement
reached at the UN climate change conference in Durban , including
a “second commitment period” of the Kyoto Protocol, which
would run from January 1st, 2013, when the current period
expires.
The Minister highlighted the need for more “joined-up
thinking” on climate change and agriculture at EU level and
among certain ministers from developing countries who he met
in Durban, saying agriculture and food security were
“key issues for people in the developing world”.
He noted that the outcome of the Durban conference included
a decision to consider issues related to agriculture, with
the aim of exchanging views among parties and adopting a decision
at the next UN climate change conference in Qatar at the end
of 2012.
Source - The Irish Times
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