Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 November 2018
228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the degree to which a simple means can be found to explain the benefits of climate change protection measures available to the community at large; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46438/18]
View answerAddressing climate change will require a significant step change in Government action across all sectors. It also has implications for how individuals, households, communities, businesses, and schools live, work and learn. As a means of promoting wider societal action on climate, the Government established a National Dialogue on Climate Action in 2017. The primary purpose of the Dialogue is to ensure an inclusive process of engagement and consensus building across society towards enabling the transformation to a low carbon and climate-resilient future. To do this, the Dialogue will seek to create awareness, engagement and motivation to act (locally, regionally and nationally) in relation to the challenges presented by climate change and to establish, on a long term basis, appropriate networks for people to meet periodically to consider evidence-based inputs on the economic, social, behavioural, environmental and public aspects of climate and energy policy.
A range of initiatives are already taking place under the National Dialogue on Climate Action, including a series of regional gatherings to consider the issues facing Ireland in addressing climate change and identify the different actions that individuals, local communities and the public sector can take. The next regional gathering will take place in Tralee, Co. Kerry on 10 November.
As part of planned National Dialogue initiatives for 2019, I am also proposing to launch a new awareness campaign on actions that individuals and households can take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
My Department already supports a range of awareness-raising initiatives through its agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). These initiatives include:
- the provision by the EPA of a range of online environmental resources for primary and secondary schools, and the SEAI schools programme, which helps to inform attitudes on energy conservation and climate action though a range of curriculum-based teaching resources and workshops;
- the EPA BeGreen online portal, which promotes waste prevention and resource efficiency activities in homes, businesses and other sectors;
- the EPA ’s online climate resources, which includes information on Irish climate research projects, carbon calculator tools for personal and business use, and answers to frequently asked questions about climate change;
- funding by the Department for the environmental television series, Eco Eye, which has aired over 100 episodes on RTE;
- SEAI consumer awareness resources, including online and print resources providing advice on how individuals can reduce their own energy use throughout their daily lives, comprising a mix of no- and low-cost actions as well as more significant retrofit interventions that can be made, with grant funding provided by the Government;
- provision by SEAI of information on energy performance of consumer products in line with EU labelling and ecodesign regulations, which promotes purchasing decisions in favour of more energy efficient options; and
- the Sustainable Energy Communities network, supported by SEAI, comprising over 200 communities around Ireland who are interested in the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The network facilitates members to work with communities with common interests, learn from others who have conducted local energy projects, learn about energy technologies and solutions available. The network also has access to energy experts and mentors as well as a range of financial supports from SEAI.
