Minister Kelly welcomes 'sensible compromise' to 2030 climate talks
Issued : Friday 24 October, 2014
Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government, Alan Kelly, has today welcomed the successful and encouraging European Council decision which secured a sensible compromise on the EU's overall climate targets last night.
“I am on record as stating that the 2020 targets were unrealistic and unachievable and that did not take into account Ireland’s dependence on agriculture or the fact that we have one of the most climate-friendly agricultural systems in the world.
“This deal recognises that we have secured recognition across the EU of the importance of a sustainable agriculture and land use sector, including afforestation, as a key consideration in ensuring coherence between the EU’s food security and climate change objectives, said the Minister.
“Having met two weeks ago with outgoing climate change Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, I made it clear that Ireland would not be signing up to any future targets that would be unachievable.
“Through a combination of efforts across various Government departments, the Taoiseach on behalf of Ireland has secured acknowledgement of its concerns and there is a clear commitment to secure consensus at further European council meetings, beyond the 2015 Climate COP in Paris, on how this collective ambition will be shared out across Member States in a fair and balanced manner,” added the Minister.
“This is an important deal for climate change itself, and a clear signal of what the EU is prepared to do as part of an ambitious new global agreement. 28 countries have secured agreement and compromise and have made a crucial step forward towards the headline 2030 targets (40% reduction on GHG gases, 27% renewables and 27% energy efficiency).
The Taoiseach made it clear during the debate that his support of the headline EU targets was based on the clear understanding that the non-ETS target to be agreed for Ireland will take account of Ireland's specific circumstances and be both deliverable and economically sustainable.
We have set a firm marker for a 2030 target for Ireland that is fair, affordable and achievable.
