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Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2021

Thursday, 6 May 2021

Questions (17)

Neale Richmond

Question:

17. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which the carbon budgets will be applied at an industry and sector level only under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021; if there will be a mechanism to push targets down to individual companies; if the latter, the mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23585/21]

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Written answers

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 will establish a legally binding framework with clear targets and commitments set in law, and provide that the necessary structures and processes are embedded on a statutory basis to ensure Ireland achieves its national, EU and international climate goals and obligations in the near and long term. The Bill establishes a system of carbon budgeting with three 5-year economy-wide budgets included in each carbon budget programme. Each carbon budget represents the total amount of greenhouse gases that may be emitted in the State during each 5 year period, measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The first carbon budget programme will comprise carbon budgets for the following periods: 2021 to 2025; 2026 to 2030; and 2031 to 2035.

Under the legislation, the Climate Change Advisory Council will propose a programme of three successive 5-year carbon budgets to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. The Minister will, after consideration and consultation, present the budgets to the Government. Once approved by Government, the Minister will propose a motion in both Houses of the Oireachtas for approval of the carbon budget. The carbon budget shall have effect on and from the date on which a motion approving the carbon budget has been passed by both Houses. These budgets have not been set as yet.

After the carbon budget has been approved, the Minister will prepare sectoral emissions ceilings for each relevant sector in consultation with other Ministers. These sectoral emissions ceilings must also be approved by the Government. 

The sectors of the economy to which each sectoral emissions ceiling will apply will be determined by the Government. The process will build on the approach established for the 2019 Climate Action Plan, whereby actions and measures will be developed for each sector on the basis of technical and scientific analysis, but also now taking account of the detailed set of principles set out in the Bill in order to determine what the appropriate range of contribution is for each sector. These ceilings will be set at sectoral level and not on individual companies.

It is noted that approximately 70% of Ireland's enterprise sector greenhouse gas emissions are also subject to a separate target in the form of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The EU ETS sets a price for carbon emissions, thereby making low emissions alternatives more attractive to enterprise. The ETS will function in a complementary manner to the forthcoming carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings.

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