Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2019
81. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a recent report (details supplied) that estimated that the elimination of carbon emissions by 2060 would give a 66% chance of global warming staying below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13997/19]
View answerThe report the Deputy refers to echoes the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5C, published in October 2018, on the urgency of ambitious action to tackle the challenges of climate change.
Addressing climate change, whether through decarbonisation of our economy, or preparing to adapt to the impacts of climate change, is one of the most significant challenges of this century. Science has confirmed the absolute urgency of achieving deep cuts in our greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades.
The EU has in place a set of greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets for the period to 2030 which are one of the most ambitious of any party to the Paris Agreement. These targets are supported by an underpinning policy framework at EU level in the key sectors of energy, buildings and transport, through the Climate and Energy legislative package. It is important that EU Member States now put in place the necessary domestic policy framework to enable them to deliver on their respective non-ETS targets which have only recently been finalised at EU level.
In order to meet Ireland’s target for 2030 that we will reduce emissions in the non-ETS sector by 30%, and building on the framework put in place by both the National Mitigation Plan and the National Development Plan, I am currently developing an All of Government Climate Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change.
The All of Government Plan will have a strong focus on implementation, including actions with specific timelines and steps needed to achieve each action, assigning clear lines of responsibility for delivery. It will also be informed by successful approaches in other countries, where such approaches could be adapted for implementation in Ireland.
