Under repeatedly stated international climate change targets, countries across the world have agreed to cut down on their carbon emissions and pollution levels, with a 16% reduction by 2020 outlined. However, nations struggling to meet those targets are also allowed to buy extra emissions allocations from other countries in return for those other nations effectively covering their emissions debt. “We are buying unused credit emissions from other countries to balance our books and pretend we are coming in under target. In simple English, if we don’t meet our targets, we can buy our way out of the problem by buying unused emissions from somewhere else. The figures emerged as the Government continues to finalise its cross-departmental climate change plan, which Environment Minister Richard Bruton is expected to publish before the end of June.

Source: Irish Examiner June 14, 2019 04:52 UTC