By Finfacts Team

Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, today  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 action 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.”

Roche claims that 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 Minister thanked COMHAR, the National Sustainable Development Council, for its recommendations on Communicating Climate Change and the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, which have been published on the Department’s website. “These recommendations will be an important consideration for me in designing the climate change awareness campaign and I am grateful to COMHAR for its work”.

IBEC – Government action to date has been narrow and unbalanced

IBEC, the Irish employers’ representative body welcomed the Government’s new climate change strategy but said that the approach to tackling the problem had to change. IBEC said that government action to date has been narrow and unbalanced, and called for the establishment of a new climate change agency to better coordinate strategy across government departments and state agencies.

IBEC’s Head of Environment Policy, Donal Buckley said: “The focus on the business sector to date has been narrow, unbalanced and misplaced. Business is responsible for 33% of national emissions, mostly coming from 100 large facilities, but is the only sector to have had strict carbon limits imposed.

While welcoming a number of features of the new strategy such as the ambitious renewable targets and public sector leadership, IBEC said the strategy would not succeed without the necessary coordination, balance and communication.

Calling for the establishment of a new national climate change agency Buckley said: “We currently lack the structures to properly implement policies and measures on a cross-sectoral and cross-departmental level. The unsuccessful approach to date would suggest that a new agency is required.

“In addition, the ability of business to tackle climate change has not yet been exploited. Companies, large and small, have the expertise to launch new green technologies. These are vital if we are to meet our growing energy needs while simultaneously reducing emissions. Government must do more to encourage renewable energy, alternative fuels, energy efficiency and forestry, to name but a few.

Buckley added: “If the national strategy is to work, there must also be a global agreement. Government must redouble its efforts at an international and EU level to address climate change. Achieving a global agreement remains the most important step.”

“A global framework must be underpinned by an agreed long-term emissions reduction target, involving an equitable global burden-sharing agreement.

Developed countries must lead the way, with developing countries following as soon as they are able. Everyone must be onboard for this to succeed.

“At an EU level, our negotiators must ensure future national targets fully reflect our strengths, capabilities and unique characteristics. Nationally, a switch to a low carbon, sustainable and energy efficient society is a clear necessity and will deliver real competitive advantages.”