Archived press release

New greenhouse gas figures show need for legally binding targets

18 September 2007

Friends of the Earth today (Tuesday 18 September) expressed concern as new figures for Northern Ireland's carbon emissions were published by the Department of the Environment. The latest data show Northern Ireland's carbon dioxide emissions have fallen by less than 4 per cent since 1990, while emissions from the basket of 6 greenhouse gases have been cut by 6 per cent. These figures fall short of the cuts made in Great Britain.

John Woods, Friends of the Earth's Northern Ireland Director, said:

"These newly published figures confirm that Northern Ireland is not pulling its weight in the fight against climate change. The UK Government agreed to make a 20 per cent cut in CO2 by 2010. It's taken Northern Ireland 17 years to make a 4 per cent cut, and if we're to do our share, we've got just 3 years to make the final 16 per cent reduction."

He continued:

"We have just learned that the Assembly Executive will agree to opt-in to the Westminster Climate Change Bill, but will not adopt targets for Northern Ireland. These new data underline the need for legally binding emissions reduction targets. The Northern Ireland ministers must not shirk this responsibility."

Notes

The new emissions data can be found at www.naei.org.uk/reports.php

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust