Skip to main content
Normal View

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2020

Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Questions (17)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

17. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he expects to be in a position to achieve emission reduction targets in line with the programme for Government while at the same time protecting economic progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16051/20]

View answer

Oral answers (4 contributions)

Tá ceist Uimh. 17 i m’ainm féin. The Minister has a choice. He can read the oral reply into the record or I will accept a written reply.

I will read the reply into the record. The question is from yourself.

I congratulate the Minister and convey good wishes to him in his office.

Congratulations to you as well, a Chathaoirligh. I am happy to respond to your question. Over the years we have worked on various committees together and I think you will agree that is where the most important work of the Oireachtas is done.

The programme for Government sets out our ambition to more than halve our carbon emissions over this decade. The action we take in the coming years will be critical in addressing the climate crisis, which renders our current economic model redundant and threatens our safe future on this planet.

As Minister with responsibility for climate action, I will lead on delivering our shared commitment to achieve an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The 2050 target will be set in law in the climate action Bill, which I will introduce in the Dáil within the first 100 days of Government.

With the increased scale and depth of this ambition, new strategies will be needed to sustain a reduction trajectory that will increase over time. I will work with colleagues across government to develop a new climate action plan before year end, with additional initiatives in every sector to bring about the significant change needed to transform our society.

While this will be challenging, requiring fundamental changes in how we live our lives, we will improve the health, welfare and security of our society, as well as realising enormous opportunities in a new, decarbonised economy. Climate change means the fossil fuel-based economic model is no longer fit for purpose. It is crucial that as we rebuild, we make the necessary structural changes to break the link between fossil fuels and economic progress. To this end, the Government is committed to ensuring that the economic recovery is a green recovery, delivered in a fair way that ensures that no sector of our society or community is left behind. The July stimulus and the national economic plan will seek to front-load investment to this end.

Critical to this process will be the Oireachtas joint committee which is due to be set up under the programme for Government. I hope it will carry on the good work done in the previous Dáil by a similar Oireachtas committee. It should be a cross-party and fully collaborative effort.

Top
Share