Government 'in denial' over Ireland's emissions

Friends of the Earth has accused the Government of being in denial about Ireland's responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions…

Friends of the Earth has accused the Government of being in denial about Ireland's responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The accusation came as a new round of UN talks on climate change opened today in Poznan, Poland.

Friends of the Earth say Ireland is dragging its feet in EU negotiations that will help determine whether a global deal to contain climate change can be agreed in time.

The charity's director Oisín Coghlan said the Government was trying to dodge Ireland's responsibility and accused them of being indifferent to the global consequences.

"Ten years ago ministers in this Government signed up to our Kyoto target, then completely failed to stick to it. So this time around the plan seems to be 'commit to as little as possible,'" he said.

"The EU wants to offer to cut emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 in the UN talks, but in internal EU negotiations Ireland is refusing to commit to cuts of more than 20 per cent even if there is a new global deal."

Mr Coughlan also accused the Government of refusing to schedule a promised further Oireachtas debate on a climate change bill that would put Irish emissions targets into law.