GRIAN

Ireland’s ranking has fallen in the annual NGO Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI, see: www.germanwatch.org/ccpi) issued today at UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen. (Note 1)

Ireland lies in 22nd place in this year’s index, down one place from last year, rather embarrassingly sandwiched between Algeria and Indonesia - two much less developed countries, both of which are too poor to qualify to have commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

The CCPI, compiled annually by German group Germanwatch assisted by other NGO‘s the Climate Action Network (CAN).covers 57 countries collectively accounting for over 90% of global emissions.

Countries in the CCPI are ranked according to a comprehensive set of indicators including empirical data on level of emissions (responsibility indicator), national wealth and renewable energy resources (capacity indicators) along with policy performance assessments carried out by in-country experts.

This year’s CCPI policy assessment for Ireland was performed, as in previous years, by Grian.

In a statement issued in Copenhagen following the release of this year’s index there today, Pat Finnegan of Grian said this morning:

"Ireland has dropped a place in the index this year for essentially two reasons. Firstly, although climate change is slowly rising up the public and political agenda, nothing like enough real mitigation action has actually been delivered in Ireland yet. The latest inventory released by government confirms this evaluation.”

“Secondly, other countries in the list are also slowly beginning to act, so as much as Ireland does, we will never improve our ranking unless we adopt a collective ambition to do relatively more than others are already doing.”

“As Grian has maintained for many years, Ireland’s potential to act---one of the main drivers in this index---is greater than perhaps any other country in the world.”

“We are amongst the highest per capita emitters in the world, so our responsibility is high.”

“We are also---despite what people might currently think---still amongst the world’s very wealthiest countries, so our capacity is also high.”

“We also possess what is undoubtedly one of the world’s largest renewable energy resources, when measured as potential in per capita terms.”

“Finding ourselves sandwiched in this list between Algeria and Indonesia---two developing countries with a fraction of our resources and capacity---should really be a matter for national shame.”

“If Brian Cowen really wants to contribute to an effective global agreement in Copenhagen this week, he could do little better than promise to have Ireland at the top of this list by 2020. That would mean a rise of two places a year consistently for ten years.”

“Grian has campaigned for nearly 10 years for successive governments to make only what is an achievable and necessary effort from Ireland as an adequate and equitable contribution to a global effort.”

“This week’s negotiations will stand or fall by commitments given to the UN by all countries, great or small, acting according to their responsibility, capacity and potential.”

“Brian Cowen must ensure that Ireland will not be found lacking or lagging in Copenhagen this week.”

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

For further info, opinion, etc. contact:

PAT FINNEGAN, (Co-ordinator, Grian) in Copenhagen:

Mobile in Copenhagen: + 353 86 856 85 20

JAN BURCK, Germanwatch CCPI: + 49 177 888 92 86

Note 1: For details on Ireland in previous editions of the CCPI, see:

2008 – Distinct improvement for Ireland in 2009 Climate Change Performance Index
http://www.grian.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=312&Itemid=2

2007 - Ireland in lowly 44th place out of 56 countries in climate index - http://www.grian.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=296&Itemid=2

Last Updated ( Monday, 14 December 2009 )

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