Minister Gormley delivers Carbon Budget

The Irish Government has set out a number of new measures which are aimed at cutting business and consumer emissions significantly.


Minister for the Environment, Heritage and local Government John Gormley delivered the first ever Carbon Budget in the history of the state. It aimed to put the challenge of tackling climate change at the heart of government policy.

“The Carbon Budget marks the beginning of a new era,” he said. “It puts our responsibilities to tackle climate change on an equal footing with our responsibilities to manage the economy.”

Plans included in the budget included minimum energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. This means that traditional inefficient light bulbs will be phased out by 2009.

What’s more a new emissions-based system for motor tax was unveiled, as was the mandatory environment labelling of new cars.

Mr Gormley said: “It recognises that the economy and the environment cannot be separated; and that the greatest risk to the economy is climate change.”

It is hoped that the new plans will help businesses and consumers move towards Government targets to reduce emissions by an average of three per cent per anum over the next five years.

James Cooper

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