A system limiting CO2 emissions from Irish industry has been published by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Draft National Allocation Plan (DNAP) for Emissions Trading in Ireland will introduce penalties of €40 per tonne for non-compliance with the new regulations.
Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide - known as CO2 - which increases global warming. This phenominon causes unpredictable weather patterns such as floods and droughts.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, Ireland agreed to keep its CO2 production to 13% above 1990 levels, but now exceeds that figure by 16%. While the EPA has reported that this is down from 31% in 2001, Ireland is further off its target than many other EU countries.
The national CO2 limit becomes operation next January and runs for thee years. The EPA has now set an individual cap for 100 of Ireland's biggest companies, in power generation, other combustion, cement, lime, glass and ceramics plants, paper mills and oil refining.
Other large companies in areas such as food & drink, pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors are included together with a number of our larger institutions.
Those who exceed their cap will be forced to buy credits from companies which came under their limit, in a process known as 'carbon trading'.
