MINISTER FOR the Environment John Gormley has pledged to reduce his personal “carbon footprint” by 10 per cent in 2010, mainly through a reduction in air travel.
Mr Gormley signed up to the 10:10 campaign during a visit to the Dublin offices of Facebook, the social networking website, as part of a series of events taking place across the country this week to highlight climate change.
Speaking ahead of his visit to Copenhagen for the United Nations climate change conference in early December, Mr Gormley said: “This week we have seen terrible evidence of how extreme weather can wreak havoc on our communities. Climate change will guarantee more extreme weather: more rain and floods in Ireland, droughts in equatorial regions, and storms and rising sea levels elsewhere.
“But we are not helpless in the face of climate change. There are steps that we can take, as individuals, as governments, and as organisations and businesses, to reduce emissions. The more people that sign up, the better we can face the climate change challenge.”
He said he was “encouraged” by the recent news that US president Barack Obama would travel to Copenhagen. “The emissions reduction targets that President Obama has outlined are lower than many environmentalists want, and it seems likely that Copenhagen will not produce a legally binding agreement on emissions, but I am heartened by the fact that America is willing to constructively engage in these talks.”
Mr Gormley said he would unavoidably have to fly to Copenhagen, but added that, more generally, he would be reducing the amount of air travel he undertook.
“Most people relatively easily can actually reduce their carbon footprint by 10 per cent by just stopping one or two flights,” he said.
Charles Stanley Smith of the 10:10 campaign, who is also chairman of An Taisce, said: “10:10 is a simple idea and an achievable idea . . . Cutting 10 per cent in one year . . . is in line with what scientists say we need.”