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Climate Change Negotiations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Questions (208)

Duncan Smith

Question:

208. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the discussions he had with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with respect to the position being adopted by Ireland in negotiations concerning the reduction of emissions and biodiversity matters arising from the proposals for a reformed Common Agricultural Policy and the Green New Deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16437/21]

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Written answers

The European Green Deal is the European Commission’s overarching plan 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. The Government has welcomed the European Green Deal and officials across Departments have been engaging with and supporting the European Commission in delivering on the European Green Deal Programme.

Ireland has significantly increased its climate ambition in the Programme for Government, including an average of 7% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions per annum from 2021 to 2030 and the goal of achieving net zero emissions no later than 2050.

As Minister for Climate Action, I am leading on delivering this shared commitment as set out in the Programme for Government. With the increased scale and depth of this ambition, new strategies will be needed to sustain an emissions reductions trajectory, which increases over time. I am working with colleagues across Government to develop a 2021 Climate Action Plan, which will include additional initiatives in every sector, including biodiversity and nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation. 

The Programme for Government recognises the need for coherence between our climate reform and biodiversity responsibilities. This is particularly the case in the agriculture sector, where the Programme for Government contains a dedicated section covering both climate action and biodiversity. It is important that reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy reward farmers for sequestering carbon, restoring biodiversity, improving water and air quality, producing clean energy, and developing schemes that support results-based outcomes. I am working with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine along with the Minister of State with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, to maximise the clear synergies between climate and biodiversity policy.

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