Neale Richmond
Question:111. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the discussions he has had regarding the European green deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34997/20]
View answerTuesday, 10 November 2020
Questions (111)
Written answers
As Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, I have welcomed and strongly support the objectives of the European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected. It includes a number of legislative proposals, new strategies and action plans, financing instruments and non-legislative initiatives, which span all sectors. 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. I have supported increased climate ambition at EU level through the European Green Deal, while asserting the importance of cost-effectiveness and fairness across Member States in pursuit of increased ambition. 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.
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 in line with the EU Renovation Wave; a major drive to realise the immense potential of Ireland’s offshore renewables as part of the EU’s clean energy transition; and implementing a major Waste and Circular Economy Action Plan also supporting EU ambition in these areas under the European Green Deal. The measures required to achieve this ambition will be set out in an updated Climate Action Plan in 2021.
The need for a socially just transition must be reflected in policies at EU and national level. 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.
In terms of national financing more generally, €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 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.
I am fully committed to engaging with the European process to deliver on the European Green Deal Programme and my Department will continue to work with the European Commission so that Ireland contributes appropriately, while ensuring that our national circumstances are well reflected in the outcome.