Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 November 2021
59. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the attention of his Department was drawn to the fact that Ireland’s carbon budget would fall short of UN recommendations prior to the publication of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s carbon budget. [53614/21]
View answerThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, enacted in July 2021, commits Ireland to achieve a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050, and provides for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. The Act also significantly strengthens the overarching climate governance framework and embeds a process of carbon budgeting, including sectoral emission ceilings. The plans and strategies established on a statutory footing under the Act 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.
In accordance with the Act, the Climate Change Advisory Council must carry out their functions, including the proposal of carbon budgets in a manner which takes account of amongst other things, relevant scientific advice and consistent with the ultimate objective specified in Article 2 of the United Nations Framework Convention.
