What is the Kyoto Protocol and what has it to do with Ireland?.
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement amongst Country’s which aims to reduce the production of greenhouse gases and targets have been set. The nations of the UN agreed to comply except Australia and USA to a 5% reduction below 1990 levels. Under the Kyoto Protocol, Parties are allowed to jointly fulfil their individual commitments. The EU set an overall reduction target of 8% below 1990 levels and has agreed a burden sharing arrangement that recognises the different economic circumstances of each member state. This is by a framework of ‘credits’, via the EU Emissions Trading Scheme which came into operation in January 2005. Ireland has ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which runs from 2008 to 2012. Under the agreement, Ireland is not supposed to allow its emissions to exceed 13% above 1990 levels. Failure to stay below the target means the Government would have to purchase ‘credits’ for every tonne of CO2 above the limit. These credits would have to be purchased each year for five years. Reduc
