Gormley delivers first carbon budget

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley yesterday delivered the first carbon budget in the history of the State — the first of its kind in Western Europe — claiming it marked the moment climate change moved to the heart of government.

The Green Party leader yesterday spelt out the detailed measures needed in 2008 to implement Tánaiste Brian Cowen’s budget announcement that carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland will fall from 70 million tonnes to 64 million tonnes, on average, between now and 2012. To put them into effect, Mr Gormley announced radical changes in the motor tax calculation, new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs and mandatory environment labelling for new cars from next July.

Outlining the carbon budget in the Dáil, Mr Gormley said Ireland must put a price on carbon.