Ireland has been told by the European Commission it must cap its carbon emmissions to 22.3 million tonnes a year between 2008 and 2012 under the Kyoto agreement, less than the allowance the State had sought.
The European Commission today announced a final decision on Ireland's national allocation plan for the Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008-2012, the Department of the Environment said.
A greater reliance on public transport will be essential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Image: Alan Betson.
The plan, which was prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provides the framework for participation by over 100 Irish installations, such as electricity generating plants, in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Each installation will have its carbon dioxide emissions capped for the five-year period.
"In accordance with the Commission decision, the annual emissions for the trading sector are to be capped at 22.3 million tonnes, which is slightly lower than the 22.6 million tonnes proposed by Ireland," the Department of the Environment said in a statement.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley said: "The Commission has now decided the share of national emission reductions that larger industries have to bear.
"The Government's priority now is to ensure that the necessary reductions are also made across the entire economy in all sectors, especially transport."
"The Programme for Government includes a commitment to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 3 per cent per year on average through a range of measures including the introduction of a carbon tax and the establishment of a high-level Commission to oversee progress on Ireland's transition to a low-carbon society.
"In progressing that transition, the commitment on implementation of all aspects of Transport 21so that the use of public transport becomes a real option for more and more people is an absolute priority."