A NEW statutory obligation to reduce greenhouse emissions by 80 per cent from 1990 levels will form part of the Climate change Bill when it is published early in 2010.
The framework for the Climate change Bill was unveiled yesterday by Minister for the Environment John Gormley as part of his third carbon budget.
He said the new Bill and the new carbon levy announced in the main budget on Wednesday would form the cornerstone of the new low carbon society.
He had promised to publish the framework – which identifies the key priorities of the legislation – before he travels to the UN conference on climate change tomorrow.
However, it also emerged that the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to the recession is not happening as quickly as anticipated.
Figures produced for the carbon budget by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) record a reduction of only 1 per cent in emissions in 2008 over 2007. This falls well short of the programme for government target of a 3 per cent annual fall.
At the press conference on the carbon budget, Mr Gormley conceded that he was frustrated with the figure of 1 per cent and wanted to see more. “But I have been waiting 20 years for a carbon levy and I am happy that it’s here now. I cannot wait another 20 years for emissions to fall,” he said.
The carbon budget reports on emissions for the previous years, sets new targets for the forthcoming year and outlines the measures that will be taken to meet those targets.
The proposed legislation also provides for a new office of climate change within the EPA and an expert climate change committee with a powerful advisory role.
The new target to cut emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, compared with 1990 levels, will mean that the country’s emissions will need to cut current 65 million tonnes per annum to just under 11 million tonnes. That will mean massive reductions in all sectors: transport, agriculture, residential and energy.
The disappointing figures for 2008 are mainly a marked increase in emissions in the residential sector compared to 2007. This was attributed to a colder winter last year, with an 8.7 per cent increase in this sector compared to the previous year.
The Minister pointed out in his speech to the Dáil that transport emissions had fallen by 1 per cent, the first fall in this sector since 1994. The modest fall was partly due to the changes in Vehicle Registration Tax and motor tax, but also due to lower vehicle sales and use of transport as a result of economic contraction.
Mr Gormley contended that the tax changes for vehicles had resulted in a major change of purchasing pattern. Some 83 per cent of new cars are within the three lowest-emitting bands.
Mr Gormley said the carbon levy – which will increase petrol prices by 4 cent a litre – had the potential to reduce emissions by up to 250,000 tonnes each year.
In his response, Fine Gael’s environment spokesman Phil Hogan said the 3 per cent target was clearly not being met. “It’s not being extended until 2020 to cover some blushes. The climate change agenda should be an opportunity for the country.”
Labour’s spokeswoman on the environment Joanna Tuffy said the reduction in emissions was small enough and was not due to the Government but to the effects of the recession. “There are gains arising from people not being able to go to work because they have lost their job and are not driving,” Ms Tuffy said.
Her colleague, Liz McManus, said the proposed Bill was inadequate and that overall responsibility for the targets should rest with the Taoiseach, as recommended by a report she prepared for an Oireachtas committee.
Oisín Coghlan of Friends of the Earth said the Bill was a milestone in Irish climate policy with the potential to put the country on a low carbon path. He continued: “There are significant weaknesses in the Bill, however, that will need to be addressed as it passes through the Oireachtas.”
Climate Bill: the key points
A 2050 target of 80 per cent reductions in emissions from 1990 levels (down from 54.8 million tonnes to 11 million tonnes).
Emissions reductions of an average of 3 per cent per annum will continue until 2020 (end year is 2012 at present).
National Climate Change Strategy enshrined in legislation.
Carbon Budget placed on a statutory footing.
A new expert Climate Change Committee to advise on, and monitor, progress.
A new Office of Climate Change.
National Climate Change Adaptation framework will get legislative backing.
A new domestic carbon offsetting or trading scheme will be set up.
Minister for the Environment will retain overall responsibility.