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Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government, has launched the Government's National
Climate Change Strategy for the period 2007-2012.
Emphasising the importance of the Strategy to meeting Ireland's
Kyoto Commitments, the Minister commented - "this Strategy
sets out, in a detailed and specific way, the comprehensive
measures that this Government has put in place to enable Ireland
to meet its target under the Kyoto Protocol.
"The strategy brings together the range of actions being
taken by this Government to reduce Ireland's greenhouse gas
emissions. It provides the necessary whole-of-Government coordination
to meet Ireland's Kyoto commitments and builds on progress
already made since the original National Climate Change Strategy
was published in 2000."
The Strategy addresses measures to all sectors of the economy
- including energy, transport, agriculture, the residential
sector and businesses. It includes existing measures put in
place on foot of the 2000 National Climate Change Strategy
and, subsequently, through the National Development Plan 2007-2013,
Transport 21, the Energy White Paper and the Bioenergy Action
Plan.
It also includes a series of additional measures to deliver
the overall objective of putting Ireland on a pathway towards
a low-carbon economy.
The Minister also noted - in light of the recent agreement
of EU leaders to reduce emissions to at least 20% below 1990
levels by 2020 - that the National Climate Change Strategy
looks beyond the Kyoto Protocol period. "The Strategy
shows how Ireland - because of the long-term view taken by
this Government, particularly in relation to renewable energy
targets and investment in public transport - will be better
positioned to meet the challenge of more ambitious targets
in the post-2012 period."
The Strategy shows that the total contribution of measures
adopted by the Government will account for 80% of the effort
that Ireland will need to meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments.
The remaining 20% will be made up by Ireland's use of the
Flexible Mechanisms.
The flexible mechanisms allow Kyoto Protocol Parties to support
the development of clean technology in the developing world
in return for emissions credits. €270 million has been
allocated under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 for
investment in such projects over the lifetime of the Strategy.
The Minister also welcomed the passing of the Carbon Fund
Bill through the final stages in the Oireachtas on 28 March.
"I'm delighted that the Carbon Fund Bill is now ready
to be signed into law by the President. This will provide
the necessary legislative underpinning for the National Treasury
Management Agency to undertake its role as purchasing agent
on behalf of the State. The NTMA has a very clear mandate,
which is set out in the Strategy and which I will formally
communicate to the NTMA following the passage of the Bill
into law."
The Minister highlighted a range of significant new commitments
in the Strategy. "We are committed to showing domestic
leadership in reducing our emissions and the Government has
agreed a series of new measures for the public sector -
- the public sector will be required to measure, report
and reduce their emissions. Public sector bodies will have
specific targets to reduce their emissions and be required
to report progress in their annual reports.
- in relation to official air travel, the Government will
introduce a voluntary carbon-offsetting scheme for all air
travel associated with Government business by Government
Ministers and civil servants.
- the Government will require the exclusive purchase of
energy efficient lightbulbs for use by public bodies by
the end of 2007."
This latter measure is a parallel initiative to a new environmental
levy on incandescent light bulbs, that will be introduced
following consultation with stakeholders on its details -
including the amount of the levy. Placing a levy on cheaper,
but less energy-efficient, incandescent bulbs will encourage
people to switch to using more energy-efficient options, such
as CFL. This will result in savings for the consumer in the
long-run.
The Minister also announced that the Government will put
in place a major national climate change awareness campaign.
Beginning in 2007, this campaign will spend a minimum of €15
million over 5 years and will be aligned with existing initiatives
and campaigns such as the national energy efficiency campaign
- Power of One.
The Government will publish another climate change strategy
for the period to 2020 when Ireland's post-2012 commitments
are known.
Notes on The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012
- Click
Here
To download The National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012
-
Click Here
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