Ireland Faces Demanding Environmental Challenges
"Natural Gas can make a real contribution towards helping Ireland meet its emission targets."
Climate change - often referred to as Global Warming - is caused by the accumulation of a range of so-called greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, and has been identified as the most significant and threatening global environmental problem facing humanity today.
The most common GHG is carbon dioxide (CO2). In 1997, in Kyoto, Japan, developed countries agreed binding targets to reduce their GHG emissions in recognition of the need to take substantial action against climate change. The EU was a participant to the Kyoto Protocol.
Essentially, this Protocol puts a cap on GHG emissions from industrial countries, based on their emission figures from 1990. The EU as a whole negotiated a target of 8% below the 1990 emissions and the Member States have a burden-sharing agreement between them. Ireland is allowed an increase of 13% above 1990 emissions and this target must be met over the period from 2008 to 2012.
If emissions exceed this 13% increase, it will be necessary to purchase allowances internationally, or face the risk of significant fines. Even with this increased allowance, the pace of economic development since 1990 means that Ireland faces a severe challenge in restricting emissions to this increased level. Forthcoming additional measures from the EU will make this necessary task even more difficult.
How Can Natural Gas Help?
We must meet our international obligations, whilst at the same time ensuring our GHG reduction measures have a sound economic footing. Natural gas can make a real contribution towards helping Ireland meet its targets as it is more efficient and results in less CO2 emissions than any other fossil fuel; it also emits negligible quantities of sulphur dioxide (SO2) which is a major contributor to acid rain.
Current projections suggest that Ireland is on course to exceed its GHG target by approximately 7 to 8 million tonnes per annum. Apart from the contribution to climate change, this overrun could potentially cost Ireland between €100 and €150 million per year through the purchase of additional CO2 allowances from international sources.
Converting all power generation in Ireland from coal, oil and peat to natural gas would improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by about 4 million tonnes, which represents a major portion of the potential overrun. Provided the natural gas is indigenous - thereby reducing concerns over security of supply and fuel diversity - such a fuel switch would make a very real contribution in meeting Ireland's Kyoto obligations while maintaining security of energy supply.
The above picture shows how Ireland’s energy requirement grew very rapidly in the 1990s and is projected to grow by a further 38% in the period 2005-2020. At the same time Ireland must fulfil its environmental obligations and limit its emissions of greenhouse gases. Although oil will remain the dominant fuel in Ireland in 2005-2020, the share of natural gas is predicted to increase more significantly, making it paramount for Ireland to develop its own supplies of natural gas.
Source: SEI, “Energy in Ireland – trends, forecasts and indicators”.
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