A report published yesterday, November 27, by the European Environment Agency (EEA) suggested that Ireland was on track to meet its current Kyoto target.
However, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, said that new measures recently introduced would mean that businesses would have reduced their emissions by even more than this by 2012.
“As you know, the Programme for Government commits Ireland to making further reductions – an annual average three per cent reduction in greenhouse gases,” he said.
“This will mean that Ireland aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions well below the 19% figure in previous reports.
“This presents an enormous challenge but one the Green Party in Government is determined to meet.”
Recently, Energy Minister Eamon Ryan told businesses that there were significant business opportunities in helping the country reduce emissions.
James Cooper