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Environmental Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021

Tuesday, 14 December 2021

Questions (136, 137)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that will be taken to achieve the targets agreed at the COP 26 United Nations Climate Change Conference. [54701/21]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps Ireland will take to achieve the targets agreed at the COP 26 United Nations Climate Change Conference. [54702/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.

The ‘Glasgow Climate Pact’, while reflecting a compromise of positions and adopted by consensus of all Parties concerned, keeps alive the ambition of restricting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. It strikes a balance between increasing climate ambition, delivering on calls for increased climate finance and adaptation supports, and concrete actions to take forward in each of these areas. Focus must now turn to delivering on these commitments.In this regard, I welcome the work programme adopted in the COP26 Decision aimed to cut emissions in this decade. International cooperation is essential to effective climate action. Ireland will continue to work alongside our EU colleagues and with all Parties to accelerate climate action and ambition to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement.

In Ireland, we are already taking decisive action. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 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 significantly strengthens the overarching climate governance framework and embeds a process of carbon budgeting, including sectoral emissions ceilings. Establishing these requirements in legislation places a clear obligation on this and future governments for sustained climate action. The recently published Climate Action Plan 2021 provides a detailed roadmap for meeting our climate ambition under the Act and sets out indicative ranges of emissions reductions for each sector of the economy. These ranges will become specific ceilings in the Climate Action Plan 2022, following the legal adoption of carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings.

Together these initiatives will ensure we deliver on our national commitment to achieve the targets agreed at COP 26.

Question No. 137 answered with Question No. 136.
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