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EPA publishes report on the impacts of climate change in Ireland, Minister Gormley launches www.1010.ie website

29/10/09

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, T.D., and the Environmental NGOs launched a new website, www.1010.ie at 10.10am at Government Buildings today (Thursday, 29th October 2009). www.1010.ie calls on everybody in Ireland to sign a Pledge to support the efforts of Government to ‘SEAL THE DEAL’ in Copenhagen, and encourages the public to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. The launch was a joint event with the Environmental Protection Agency and Laura Burke, Director of the EPA, was also in attendance to release the EPA’s report on 'A Summary of the State of Knowledge on Climate Change Impacts for Ireland'. Both initiatives are timely as Government prepares for the UN Climate Change Conference that is taking place in Copenhagen on 7th – 18th December this year to agree a new international deal on carbon emissions to come into force in 2012, after the Kyoto Protocol expires.

“We need to reduce the amount of carbon emissions being produced, nationally and globally, in order to reduce our impact on climate change and the Irish Government is committed to doing everything it can to agree a new deal in Copenhagen to tackle carbon emissions,” said Minister Gormley.  “I am grateful to the Environmental NGO’s for their support and encourage everybody to visit the website, www.1010.ie, to see what they can do to tackle climate change in their home and in their workplace.”

The EPA report on the State of Knowledge on Climate Change impacts is an important summary and assessment of where we are in understanding of climate change. Laura Burke said at the launch, “it is welcome to see cross agency involvement in this work in which the EPA collaborated with Met Eireann and the Marine Institute among other groups, including leading academics working in this area such as the NUI Maynooth Icarus group and Coastal and Marine Resources Centre  in University College Cork. The report shows that climate change will impact on a range of sectors in Ireland and that actions are required to reduce the adverse consequences of these impacts. This report is also a key step in the development of a planned climate information system for Ireland which would provide information to key users across all sectors and is envisaged a vital element in our strategy to adapt to climate change.”

The www.1010.ie website includes a call to everybody in Ireland to sign a pledge to support the efforts of Government to ‘SEAL THE DEAL’ in Copenhagen to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve a global agreement that is fair, balanced and effective and ensures countries at greatest risk from climate change receive the help they need to adapt. The pledge can be signed online at the new website, www.1010.ie and in pledge books available in public libraries throughout the country from today, Thursday 29th October. The Minister and the other attendees at the launch spearheaded this initiative by signing the first pledge book which will now be moved to the public library in Pearse St, Dublin 2 for the public to sign.

“On average in Europe we each generate 8.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.  Individuals, householders, communities and business can easily reduce carbon emissions by at least 10% through small changes that really can make a difference, such as walking, cycling and using public transport where possible, changing to low-energy light bulbs, and ensuring heat is not being lost through draughty windows and doors,” says Tony Lowes, Friends of the Irish Environment who are involved in the www.1010.ie campaign.  “As well as helping to tackle climate change, you can save money too.”

ENDS.

For further information:

- Neasa Kane, 087-232 0038 / Mary Murphy 087-233 6415 (The Change Campaign)
- Niamh Leahy, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours)

Notes to Editors

1. Carbon – what it is and how it impacts on Climate Change
The biggest contributor to climate change is carbon dioxide, which mostly comes from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas and peat). Each one of us therefore contributes to climate change because much of what we do, from driving and flying to heating and lighting our homes, involves using energy produced by fuels such as coal, oil, gas and peat. 

2. Find your carbon number
- Personal Carbon Calculator at www.Change.ie, the Government’s climate change awareness campaign website which measures how much fuel individuals use to drive, fly, heat and light the home
- Carbon Management Tool for business and large organisations such as schools and hospitals to measure their carbon number at www.Change.ie

3. What is 1010.ie about?
10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of Irish society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in Ireland's carbon emissions in 2010. We now know for certain that unless we act quickly to reduce our use of fossil fuels, humanity will face terrible problems in the years to come. By signing up to a 10% target we’re not just supporting 10:10 – we’re making it happen. In our homes, in our workplaces, our schools and our hospitals, our galleries and football clubs and universities, we’ll be backing each other up as we take the first steps on the road to becoming a zero-carbon society. It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of a huge problem like climate change, but by uniting everyone behind immediate, effective and achievable action, 10:10 enables all of us to make a meaningful difference.


4. The Climate Change Pledge – in libraries and at www.1010.ie :
I support the efforts to ‘SEAL THE DEAL’ at the December 2009 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve a global agreement that is fair, balanced and effective and ensures countries at greatest risk from climate change receive the help they need to adapt. I pledge to play my part in combating climate change by aiming to reduce my carbon footprint by 10% by the end of 2010.

5. Tips to reduce carbon by 10% - and save money:
• Walk or cycle on short journeys
• Take the bus or train instead of driving if possible
• Switch off lights when leaving a room
• Reduce heating
• Avoid wasting water
• Fix leaking taps, don’t run the tap unnecessarily
• Use low-energy light bulbs
• Plug out appliances when not in use
• When replacing electrical appliances, buy A-energy rated if possible

6. What is happening at Copenhagen in December?
On December 7, governments will gather in Copenhagen, Denmark for the UN Climate Change Conference to respond to one of the greatest challenges facing humanity by agreeing a new international deal on carbon emissions to come into force in 2012, after the Kyoto Protocol expires. The main question will be how protect the planet and create a green economy that will lead to long-term prosperity. It is hoped that as many people as possible will sign up to the 1010 pledge before December 7 in order to show the world that the Irish people support a fair, balanced and effective agreement in Copenhagen, and to encourage the world's political representatives to seal a deal to power green growth, protect our planet and build a more sustainable, prosperous global economy that will benefit all nations and people.


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