Distinct improvement for Ireland in 2009 Climate Change Performance Index

Poznan, Poland, Wednesday 10th. December 2008, 13.30 hrs CET (12.30 GMT)

Ireland has shown a distinct improvement in its ranking in the annual Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) issued by NGO’s today in Poznan, Poland.

Ireland lies 21st out of 57 countries collectively accounting for over 90% of global emissions compiled by German climate group Germanwatch assisted by the Climate Action Network (CAN). (See: www.germanwatch.org/ccpi )

The 57 countries in the CCPI are ranked according to a comprehensive set of indicators comprised partly of inventory-based empirical data and partly on policy performance assessments carried out by in-country experts.  This year’s CCPI assessment for Ireland was performed, as in previous years, by Grian.

In a statement issued this afternoon in Poznan.coinciding with the release of this year’s index Pat Finnegan said today: "The distinct improvement in Ireland’s ranking this year is encouraging. It reflects real and positive improvements in Irish performance in two of the highest weighted indicators, namely growth in renewable energy, and enhanced performance in terms of policy objectives. Nevertheless, Ireland’s score of 55.6% indicates that Ireland must nearly double current efforts if it is to get on track to an adequate contribution to meeting the global target of limiting warming to less than two degrees Centigrade.”

The rise in Ireland’s position this year (up from 44th position last year) is not quite as dramatic as it might seem, given that half of this rise is actually due to a correction performed to a database bug in last year’s rankings which particularly affected Ireland.

Even the top performer (Sweden) is still only making 2/3rds of the effort really required to meet the 2 degrees objective.

For the full report and further detail see: www.germanwatch.org/ccpi

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Further info, opinion, etc. contact: PAT FINNEGAN, (Co-ordinator, Grian) in Poznan:

Mobile:  + 353  86  856  85 20