The Green Party has called on the Government to scrap its National Climate Change Strategy following the release of new figures revealing that Ireland is the worst offender in failing to curb its greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the latest report by the European Environment Agency, Ireland's soaring output of greenhouse gases has contributed to an overall increase in these emissions throughout the EU for the second consecutive year.
Figures released by the agency yesterday show that total EU emissions of carbon-dioxide and other gases blamed for contributing to global climate change are estimated to have risen by 1 per cent in 2001.
"Ireland, Spain and Portugal are furthest away from keeping to their share of the EU target," the agency said. "Ireland's emissions in 2001 stood 31 per cent higher than in 1990, well over double the 13 per cent increase it is allowed between 1990 and 2008-2012."
Others heading towards overshooting their agreed share of the EU emissions target include Austria and Finland. In Finland emissions went up by 7.3 per cent between 2000 and 2001.
The big increases in emissions in Finland and Austria (up 4.8 per cent) were partly attributable to a colder winter, which required more reliance on fossil fuels, and lower rainfall which cut hydropower electricity production.
Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, the EU must bring its emissions to 8 per cent below their 1990 level by 2008-2012.
Failure to do so would result in penalties which, in Ireland's case, could amount to €300 million a year. Publication of the EEA figures is bound to rekindle the debate on carbon taxes, which the Government has postponed introducing until the 2005 budget due to concerns about a possible negative impact on Irish economic competitiveness.
The Green Party has tabled a Dáil motion calling for a "root and branch" reform of the Programme for Government in order to meet Kyoto Protocol targets, including increased investment in public transport, wind power and building insulation.
The party's environment spokesman, Mr Ciarán Cuffe TD, said that, in ratifying the treaty on May 31st last year, the Government had described climate change as "the most serious global environmental problem facing us and future generations". Yet this was "just hot air" as it was investing five times more in roads than in public transport.
In response, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen said: "While the Green Party continues talking, the Government is acting. A trading programme to reduce emissions is in place. We are working with the farming community towards best practice in agriculture".