Ireland must cut CO2 by 15% in EU plan

IRELAND will have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and transport by 15% by 2020 under a plan to tackle climate change to be published by the European Commission tomorrow.

The EU’s poorer member states will be allowed to increase their emissions to facilitate their economic development while those with higher GDPs will have to make larger cuts.

Ireland will also have to provide a higher than average share of its energy needs from renewables such as wind power and biofuels on the basis of its GDP, which is second highest in the EU at 40% higher than the average.