Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 November 2019
209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which his climate change energy polices compare with applicable policies in other EU states with particular reference to greenhouse gas reduction and the phasing out of fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49644/19]
View answerThe European Environment Agency produces an annual report which provides an assessment of the progress of the EU and individual Member States towards their climate and energy targets. The latest report “Trends and Projections in Europe 2019” is based on official statistics on energy and greenhouse gas emissions reported by Member States up to and including 2017. The report can be found here: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/trends-and-projections-in-europe-1.
The 2009 Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC (ESD) set binding annual emissions targets for Member States for the period 2013-2020 for sectors outside the EU Emissions Trading System. According to the latest EEA report, ten Member States (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta and Poland) are projected to miss their 2020 ESD target.
The ESD allows Member States to meet their targets by means of unused emissions allowances from earlier years, or through purchasing allowances from other Member States, or on international markets. Ireland expects to make use of these flexibilities to comply with the ESD.
