State to push EU for further CO2 cuts

The Irish Government will push for further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions at the European Council meeting in Brussels next month.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said the Government would campaign for bigger reductions in carbon emissions, even in the wake of EU commitments this week to improve its targets.

Mr Ahern said he and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern would seek the following targets at the biannual meeting of Europe’s political leaders in the Belgian capital on March 8 and 9:

The EU to press for an international agreement among developed nations providing for a 30% cut in greenhouse gas emissions.

In the absence of an international agreement, a unilateral cut in EU emissions by 20%.

20% of energy consumption to come from renewable sources.

A 10% minimum target share for bio-fuels.

A 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020.

The changes would bring the EU into line with the targets recently signalled by the Government for Ireland. However, such major cuts in emissions are likely to be opposed by some of the EU’s newer members.

Speaking to the Institute for European Affairs in Dublin, Mr Ahern said it was clear that climate change was the single greatest, economic, environmental, geopolitical issue facing the world.

“Its existence is beyond serious doubt. The evidence is extremely clear. That debate is over,” he said.

“It is a force against which there is no hard power, no military solution. It demands unprecedented global unity of purpose,” he said.

He added that global action was needed, including the US and China signing up to Kyoto.

“China, America, the G8 and other large emitters must come on board now. “The job of the union — above and beyond its own domestic actions — is to be the global advocate for action on climate change.”

Ciarán Cuffe, the Green Party’s environment spokesperson gave a qualified welcome to the initiative, saying it was a step in the right direction.

“But the minister should clean up his own back yard. “Irish emissions rose 2% between 2005 and 2006. He is talking the talk but is he walking the walk?” he said.

Mr Cuffe also said that Ireland should push for a unilateral 30% cut in the EU, not the 20% proposed by the Government.