Gormley pledges to reduce his carbon emissions by 10% next year

Environment Minister John Gormley today pledged to reduce his personal greenhouse gas emissions by 10% in 2010. The Green Party Leader signed up to the 10:10 campaign during a visit to the Dublin offices of Facebook, which was part of a series of events taking place across the country this week to highlight climate change.

Speaking before he travels to Copenhagen for the UN climate change conference in early December Minister Gormley said: "Today I have signed up to the 10:10 campaign and made a personal pledge to reduce my carbon footprint in 2010. This week we have seen terrible evidence of how extreme weather can wreak havoc to our communities. Climate change will guarantee more extreme weather; more rain and floods in Ireland, droughts in equatorial regions and storms and rising sea levels elsewhere in the world.

"But we are not helpless in the face of climate change. There are steps that we can take - as individuals, as governments, and as organisations and businesses to reduce emissions - and the more people that sign up, the better we can face the climate change challenge."

"I am encouraged by the recent news that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen in December and participate in the UN climate change conference. The emissions reduction targets that President Obama has outlined are lower than many environmentalists want, and it seems likely that Copenhagen will not produce a legally binding agreement on emissions. But I am heartened by the fact that America is willing to constructively engage in these talks. This is a very welcome step forward."

"I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to the experiences of employees working at Facebook. Like the rest of modern Ireland, the staff here come from countries across the world and they have shared with me their experiences and examples of how other cities, governments and organisations are responding to the climate challenge. I found their ideas very valuable and hope to be able to act on some of them."

10:10's Charles Stanley Smith, who is also Chairman of An Taisce said: "10:10 is a simple idea and an achievable idea - that we all work together to achieve a 10% reduction in our carbon emissions during 2010. Cutting 10% in one year is a bold target but it is an achievable target and is in line with what scientists say we need right now."

Among the events that have taken place include: a seminar and food tasting in Waterford; a torch-lit walk on Mount Leinster in Carlow; a film screening and tree planting in Kilkenny; and a critical mass cycle in Belfast. More details are available on the Green Party's Countdown to Copenhagen page on Facebook: http://short.ie/countd