Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley is keeping his fingers crossed for a new deal at the climate change talks in Copenhagen but admitted the "omens aren’t good".
Speaking at the Irish embassy in the Danish capital, the Green Party leader said the breakdown in talks is typical of high-profile negotiations.
"I know the omens aren’t particularly good at the moment but people should remember that it is negotiation," and he quipped, "you have to have at least one walk out." Gormley said the potential of a new climate change bill would likely have an impact on Ireland’s role within the EU.
"The fact there’s a provision in the climate change bill for the Environmental Protection Agency to play a central role and bring their expertise is hugely important. They have independent speakers who can come forward with an independent view.
"Let’s hope all of us are close to getting a deal because it means a lot not just for climate change but for Ireland as well. We want to play a leading role within the EU. I hope we can show our support in the next few days to get a deal."
The TD is to be joined at the talks by Brian Cowen and Barack Obama as Friday’s deadline to cut carbon emissions approaches. Gormley said it was the "highlight of my life" to be representing his country but sounded a word of caution if a deal to reduce greenhouse gasses by 2020 is passed.
"Even with the deal we’re still going to be so far off what we need to be doing to get to the level we need."
Gormley said Dublin could learn from Copenhagen, where more than 30% of workers commute to work by bicycle.
"They are all madly green here. No question about it. I’m so impressed at what has happened in Copenhagen in relation to cycling where they have rates of commuting approaching 40%.
"Dublin is equally a flat city and we could aspire to this. At the moment we’re way off although it has increased so we can learn a lot."
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