Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014
521. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recent widespread flooding, if he will outline the broad content and objectives of this country’s policies on climate change; the levels of this country’s adherence to EU and other international protocols on climate change. [8204/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions No. 141, 142, 143 and 150 of 22 January 2014 which sets out the process under which national greenhouse gas mitigation policy and climate change adaptation policy are being progressed. I also refer to the outline Heads of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill which I issued in February 2013.
The National Climate Change Adaptation Framework, which was published in December 2012, provides for the development and implementation of sectoral and local adaptation action plans which will form part of a comprehensive national response to the impacts of climate change. The Framework provides that sectoral adaptation plans are to be made by the relevant Department or Agency and published by mid-2014. Sectoral plans will be revised at least every 5 years.
The spatial planning process provides the means through which climate change responses, including adaptation, will be integrated and implemented at local level. Under the National Framework, local authorities will make an assessment of the extent to which existing development plans adequately address adaptation to climate change, for example, in respect of flood risk assessment and, where they consider it necessary and appropriate, will initiate a review process of relevant plans by mid-2014. Local development planning will, in effect, become the mechanism for the delivery of local climate adaptation action.
In terms of adherence to EU and international protocols on climate change, Ireland is subject to legally binding greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol in respect of the period 2008 to 2012, and a 2009 EU Effort Sharing Decision (No. 406/2009/EC) in respect of the period 2013 to 2020.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, Ireland was required to limit growth of GHG emissions to 13 per cent above 1990 levels over the period 2008 to 2012. Under the 2009 EU Effort Sharing Decision, which applies to GHG emissions outside the scope of the EU Emissions Trading System, Ireland must limit growth of GHG emissions to 20 per cent below 2005 levels over the period 2013 to 2020.
Ireland is on course to confirm compliance with its target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol in the commitment period 2008 to 2012.
In respect of the period 2013 to 2020, Ireland’s emission reduction target under EU law is ambitious and challenging. I am satisfied that Ireland is on course to comply with the mitigation trajectory in the first half of the compliance period. I will keep under review progress in terms of meeting the compliance challenge in the years 2017 to 2020, having regard to the outcome of the on-going programme for the development of national climate policy and legislation.
