Climate Change

Introduction

To ensure Ireland meets its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, the Government launched the National Climate Change Strategy in November 2000. The Enterprise Sector, in common with other sectors, must achieve reductions in the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. A range of measures was proposed, including negotiated agreements with certain industry sectors, participation in EU and international Emissions Trading, taxation, participation in the Kyoto Project Mechanisms i.e. Joint Implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and participation in the negotiations on Fluorinated gases.

The Environment Unit is actively involved in pursuing the establishment of specific measures to ensure that the enterprise sector can meet its obligations to reduce greenhouse gases.

Some general background information on the various measures is set out below: -

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Negotiated Agreements

Sustainable Energy Ireland has undertaken a Negotiated Agreements Pilot Programme. The Final Report was published in September 2003. An evaluation of the role of Negotiated Agreements in the Irish context is ongoing.

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Emissions Trading

The EU Emissions Trading Directive has been adopted and the scheme began on 1^st January 2005. The Government has given the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) responsibility for implementing the Directive in Ireland.

The Government decided in February 2004 the portion of Ireland's total emissions allowances to be given to those engaged in emissions trading in the pilot period (2005-2008). Consultants, ICF Consulting & Byrne Ó Cléirigh with input from the ESRI, were engaged to assist the Government in reaching their decision. Click on the following links to view the consultants' Report "Determining the Share of National Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Emissions Trading in Ireland".

The EPA, as well as having responsibility to set up systems to monitor emissions and to track trades and holdings of greenhouse gas emission allowances, is responsible for preparation of the National Allocation Plan (NAP), which sets out the allocation of allowances to the participating companies.

The EPA appointed Consultants, Indecon International Economic Consultants and ENVIROS Consulting to assist it in determining the allocation of emission allowances to the sectors and individual installations. The consultant's report, "Determining the Distribution of National Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Emissions Trading in Ireland", can be accessed via the EPA's Emissions Trading Unit web site. This site also contains details of the public consultations, and the submissions received, on the draft NAP for the pilot phase 2005-2007.

Joint Implementation (JI) & the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

Along with emissions trading the Kyoto Protocol envisages two project-based "flexible mechanisms", Joint Implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). These mechanisms allow countries with Kyoto targets to gain credits for emission-curbing profits implemented abroad. Joint Implementation refers to projects in countries that also have binding Kyoto targets and CDM refers to projects in developing countries. The rationale behind these mechanisms, and emissions trading, is that greenhouse gas emissions are a global problem and the place where reductions are made is less important. The EU Commission published a proposal for a Directive linking JI and CDM to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (PDF) in July 2003.

The European Parliament voted in favour of the proposals on 20^th April 2004. Further information can be obtained as follows:

• Report prepared for the European Parliament by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health, and Consumer Policy
• EU Commission press release: Climate change: EP vote paves the way for global fight against climate change

The Linking Directive will enable companies participating in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to count credits from emission reduction projects around the world towards their obligations under the EU Emissions Trading Directive. The Linking Directive is expected to reduce the costs for companies participating in Emissions Trading as well as promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries.

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Fluorinated Gases

On the 14 October 2004, the Environment Council reached political agreement on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases and on the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to emissions from air conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC.

The draft Regulation addresses the containment, use, recovery and destruction of the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases listed in Annex A to the Kyoto Protocol. It further regulates the labelling and disposal of products and equipment containing these gases; the reporting of information on those gases; the use of sulphur hexafluoride; the placing on the market of products and equipment containing, or whose functioning relies upon, FGG; and the training and certification of personnel involved in activities provided for by the draft Regulation.

The draft Directive applies specifically to Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas emissions from air conditioning systems fitted to vehicles. It establishes a gradual system of elimination of air conditioning equipment with a global warming potential higher than 150.

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Action on Climate Change post 2012

The Environment Unit is involved in the Negotiations on post-Kyoto arrangements for tackling climate change which have commenced at International and European level.

DG Environment launched a stakeholder consultation on Action on Climate Change post 2012. The aim of this consultation was to assist the Commission in identifying important issues for consideration in preparing a report for the spring 2005 European Council. On the 9^th February 2005 the Commission adpoted the Communication “Winning the Battle Against Climate Change” which outlines key elements of the EU’s post 2012 strategy. A full overview of the range of other activities, conferences and recent papers related to future actions on climate change post-2012 can be found at the website of the " future international action on climate change network".

More information on the EU's climate change policy can be found at the the Commission's Climate Change homepage.

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Some Useful Links

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• The EU Commission Climate Pages
• Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI)
• The Dept. of Environment, Heritage & Local Government
  (Follow this link for Climate Site)
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Follow this link to go directly to the EPA’s Emissions Trading Unit pages.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA)
• The European Environment Agency (EEA)
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Follow this link for OECD Climate Change Pages.
• Enterprise Ireland's EnviroCentre Web Site
• The "10 Steps" Site

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