Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
55. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of the level of delays in completion of actions within the existing Climate Action Plan; his plans to address the missed targets in the updated action plan; and the penalties proposed for the missing of targets to be imposed on the relevant State agencies in the updated action plan. [10978/21]
View answerThe most recently published quarterly progress report on the Climate Action Plan 2019 shows an average delivery rate of approximately 80%. The reports can be found here https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/55fde-climate-action-important-publications/. The Government is committed to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, equivalent to a 51% reduction over the decade, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, in line with EU ambitions.
I have initiated a review of the Climate Action Plan 2019 with the updated plan to be published in Summer 2021. This review will allow for consideration of any policies or measures needed to reinforce the delivery of the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2019, as well as those policies and measures needed to deliver the further step up in ambition.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill will significantly strengthen the overarching climate governance framework, place in law a national climate objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, and embed a process of carbon budgeting, including sectoral emission ceilings. The plans and strategies established on a statutory footing under the Bill will require that policies are put in place to ensure carbon budget ceilings are not breached. Putting these requirements in legislation places a clear obligation on this and future governments for sustained climate action.
The Bill also provides for a significantly strengthened accountability and oversight role by the Oireachtas. Each year, relevant Ministers will be required to give account to an Oireachtas Committee on their performance in adhering to their sector’s greenhouse gas emission ceilings. Where Ministers are not in compliance with the targets, they will need to outline what corrective and additional measures are envisaged, and respond to any recommendations made by the Committee within three months. This ‘comply or explain’ approach will ensure greater oversight is provided.
In addition, the annual update to the Climate Action Plan will also provide an opportunity to set out corrective actions, where necessary, to comply with sectoral targets.
