Skip to main content
Normal View

Environmental Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Questions (263)

Neale Richmond

Question:

263. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the steps Ireland has taken to move in line with the European Green Deal as outlined as a priority by the European Commissioner President, Ursula von der Leyen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33035/20]

View answer

Written answers

The EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. This objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal and in line with the EU’s commitment to global climate action under the Paris Agreement. The European Commission has presented its plan to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. This level of ambition for the next decade will put the EU on a balanced pathway to reaching climate neutrality by 2050. It is intended that both the 2030 and 2050 targets will be enshrined in the EU Climate Law. The Government has welcomed the European Green Deal and supports the ambition set out therein.

In recognition of the investment required to decarbonise our economies, the EU’s €750 billion Next Generation EU recovery package and €1 trillion budget require that money can only be spent on projects that meet certain green criteria, with 30% of all funding to go on climate change mitigation.  Ireland will seek to maximise the drawdown of its share of this funding.

The Programme for Government has a Green New Deal for Ireland as a core mission. It commits to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the latter being consistent with EU 2050 ambition. The Climate Action (Amendment) Bill, currently in pre-legislative scrutiny, will strengthen the governance structure in supporting Ireland’s response to climate breakdown, and will set the 2050 decarbonisation target in law.  

This fundamental step change in ambition and broadening of our target horizon to a 7% average emissions reduction per annum will be underpinned by the core philosophy of a Just Transition. We are committed to ensuring that no sector of society or community is left behind in the movement to a low-carbon future. The Just Transition Fund is a key pillar of the Government’s just transition plan for the Midlands region. A 2020 fund of €11 million is available for projects focusing on retraining workers and proposals to generate sustainable employment in green enterprise in the region, and supporting communities to transition to a low carbon economy.

The Programme for Government commits to far-reaching policy changes across every sector to deliver this expanded and deepened climate ambition including: delivering a National Aggregated Model of Retrofitting reaching over 500,000 homes by 2030; developing a major drive to realise the immense potential of Ireland’s offshore renewables; and implementing a major Waste and Circular Economy Action Plan. The measures required to achieve the 2030 ambition will be set out in an updated Climate Action Plan in 2021.

In terms of national financing, €30.4 billion is allocated for investment in climate action over the lifetime of Ireland's National Development Plan 2018 – 2027. As part of the July Jobs Stimulus Plan, to help businesses adapt to the green economy, €10 million will be provided to support businesses engaging in green research, development and innovation, capital investment, and capacity building, through the first phase of a new Green Enterprise Fund. Budget 2021 funding reflects this Government’s ambition for a green, jobs-led recovery. In total, across Government, €286.5 million has been committed to retrofit activity, and €1.8 billion funding was announced for sustainable transport, cycling, walking, and greenways. The Government has announced a review of the National Development Plan, which will look at the appropriate amounts of funding across various areas such as climate action, housing and transport, and will be consistent with the Programme for Government.

In addition, Ireland is preparing a National Recovery and Resilience Plan to be submitted to the European Commission by 30 April 2021 in order to receive funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Our plan will set out a coherent package of reforms and public investment projects to be implemented up to 2026 and will include measures aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the green and digital transition.

Question No. 264 answered with Question No. 262.
Top
Share