Ireland is unable change its carbon emissions targets, as it can afford the cost of cutting C02 emissions, according to the European Commission president José Manuel Barroso.

The statement came ahead of the landmark climate change package launched by the Commission's at a summit in Brussels.
Mr Barroso urged EU leaders to adopt the package without hesitation, describing it as a "test of their credibility".

"Our proposal is equitable, fair and technically sound - we will not change it," said Mr Barroso, when asked whether he would consider revising the core methodology used to set Ireland's target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.

The commission handed Ireland the toughest target in Europe for cutting emissions under a burden-sharing agreement drawn up in January based on relative wealth. Meeting the target is likely to cost the economy up to €1 billion per year by 2020.

The Government has raised concerns about the way the target was apportioned by Brussels.

However, Mr Barroso said it was obvious that a poor country has to make more effort to reach the goals than a rich country.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has lobbied the commission about Ireland's climate targets, arguing that GDP per capita does not accurately reflect the Irish economy because of the high level of profits repatriated by multinational companies.

EU leaders are expected to broadly back the commission's climate plan at the summit today, although they are likely to seek modest changes to protect European industry.

Source: Irish Times