NI committed to climate change programme

Environment Minister, Angela Smith, has welcomed a consultation paper outlining Government proposals to review the UK’s Climate Change Programme and stressed Northern Ireland’s commitment to contributing to this process.

Angela Smith said that although much good work had been done and significant reductions in emissions of the damaging greenhouse gases had been achieved across the UK, there was still much to do.

“It is not all doom and gloom,” the Minister said. “The opportunities in tackling climate change offer great potential for innovation and scientific discovery as well as business and investment growth and I want to see Northern Ireland playing its part in this exciting prospect.”

The Minister stressed that the Government’s long-term target of a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050 would not be achieved without “a very strong commitment” from all sectors at national, regional and local level, including business, industry and transport, as well as the public sector and individuals.

“The UK is on track to meet its Kyoto target, but on the basis of current policies, we will not achieve its 2010 domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. I hope as many people as possible will look at the consultation paper and make their views known,” she added

Under the Kyoto Protocol the UK must cut emissions of the six main greenhouse gases by 12.5% by 2008/2012 and its domestic goal of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide by 20% by 2010.

(MB/SP)