Gormley to attend climate conference in Poland

Minister for the Environment John Gormley will be arriving in Poznan in Poland later this week to take part in the UN climate conference where negotiators from 187 countries are seeking to find agreement on a new treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Negotiators are aiming to conclude a deal on a new agreement in Copenhagen next December to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which ends in 2012.

The Kyoto Protocol set binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Poznan talks began last Monday with pleas for urgent action to fight global warming despite the economic slowdown, and a warning that inaction could mean water shortages for half the world by 2050.

Over 10,600 delegates are attending the Poznan talks.

In Europe, the economic slowdown has exposed doubts about the costs of an EU goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

Prior to his departure for Poland, the Minister for the Environment was presented with a set of negotiation demands by the Green Party’s European Affairs spokeswoman Deirdre de Búrca to take with him on his trip.

Speaking after a photocall at Government Buildings this morning, she said: “Ireland has much to gain from an ambitious new deal on climate change.

"As well as taking measures to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change before it is too late, a commitment to a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 would act as a major spur for innovation and job creation.”