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Environmental Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 November 2021

Thursday, 4 November 2021

Questions (201)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which his Department has examined the fullest possible extent to which all measures to offset the impact of meeting such targets on industry, sector by sector with particular reference to the need to avoid permanent damage to the economy while at the same time meeting carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53890/21]

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Written answers

The Environmental Protection Agency recently reported that Ireland’s 2020 greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 3.6% compared with 2019 levels which indicates the challenge faced in delivering substantial and sustained emissions reductions.

The EPA report that emissions relating to Manufacturing Combustion and Industrial Processes combined accounted for 11.5% of Ireland’s total emissions in 2020. Emissions from the Manufacturing Combustion sector decreased by 1.5% or 0.07 Mt CO2eq in 2020. There were decreases in combustion emissions from major sub sectors including chemical and non-metallic minerals (includes cement) which decreased by 2.6% and 3.7% respectively in 2020 whereas combustion emissions from food and drink increased by 2.4%.

The measures required to achieve our climate ambition will be set out in the soon to be published Climate Action Plan 2021 and will include a significant step up of ambition in the industry sector. The Plan more generally will set out the range of measures across all sectors required to achieve 51% emissions reduction by 2030 and set us on a path-way to net zero by 2050 at the latest.

Further to the enactment of the Climate Act, the Climate Change Advisory Council has recently advised proposed economy-wide carbon budgets for the periods 2021-2025 and 2026-2030, and a provisional budget for 2031-2035. Sectoral emissions ceilings, including for the enterprise sector, will be set in accordance with the process set out in the Act.

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