Gormley to unveil ‘green’ legislation

THE main thrust of new legislation to combat climate change will be laid out by Environment Minister John Gormley later today.

If passed it would enshrine into law a series of environmental polices that will be used to achieve the country’s target to reduce emissions by up to 30% by 2020.

The outline of the long-anticipated law has been approved by Cabinet and Mr Gormley will detail it when he announces his annual carbon budget this afternoon. It will provide for how much pollutants the country is expected to have generated this year and next. As a result of Wednesday’s budget these emissions will be taxed for the first time.