The Government is expected to mount a strong lobbying campaign to try to reduce the 20 per cut in Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions proposed by the European Commission yesterday.
The Government is expected to mount a strong lobbying campaign to try to reduce the 20 per cut in Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions proposed by the European Commission yesterday.
As Ireland has the second-highest gross domestic product (GDP) in the EU combined with a relatively poor record at meeting emissions targets, it is one of the states hit hardest by the new climate strategy which aims to make the richest countries bear the greatest burden.
The commission's proposals would require Ireland to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, using 2005 figures as a base. The commission has also set a target of 16 per cent of all energy in Ireland to come from renewable sources from that date.
The Government's response to the proposals was cautious and verging on the negative, though that was tempered by a more enthusiastic and welcoming reaction from the two Green Ministers. However, Government spokesmen representing the two parties were at pains to stress that Fianna Fáil and the Greens were at one on the issue.
In a detailed statement released after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change yesterday afternoon, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern gave strong indications that the assumptions used by the commission to arrive at the targets would be seriously challenged by the Government at EU level. Mr Ahern said the targets raised "very serious economic and social issues for Ireland". Echoing the comments of Tánaiste Brian Cowen from earlier in the week, Mr Ahern also raised concerns that the ultimate decision to impose targets on each member state arose out of a fair and transparent process.
He also revealed that he had written to commission president José Manuel Barroso on January 18th outlining these concerns. In the letter, he pointed out that because of the repatriation of profits from the substantial foreign direct investment sector in Ireland, there was a substantial difference between GDP and gross national income (GNI) in this State.
Mr Ahern also highlighted the large infrastructural deficit as it related to public transport and the population boom, as well as the large size of Irish agriculture, which accounts for 28 per cent of national greenhouse gas emissions.
The Government's statement was more positive on the renewable target of 16 per cent of all energy by 2020, saying it was broadly in line with its own national targets.
Mr Ahern's spokesman said last night that the Government was setting out its stall ahead of negotiations on the issue. He said GDP, at €175 billion, was some €25 billion higher than GNI. Agreeing that the Government may argue for a reduction on the basis of these figures, he said: "It is a figure with which we would take issue with the EU. We will present our case on this particular figure."
The Green Party spokesman said the Greens agreed that no member state should be absented from its obligations or faced with an undue burden. Dismissing any question of splits over the targets, he said: "There's no suggestion of a difference. Even if the Greens want a fight, which they do not, they would not be able to find it because this is such a new, complex and diverse issue."
Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan said: "There's an opportunity in taking on this international commitment. We can improve aspects of Irish society, we can improve our economy, we can create jobs in the renewables industry and we can save money by cutting back on fossil fuels."
