Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
227. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that Ireland has not yet submitted a mandatory long-term strategy to the EU due at the beginning of January 2022 as set out in the Climate Action Plan; when he will submit this strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4322/22]
View answerIreland's Long-term Climate Action Strategy (LTS) will be completed in quarter one 2022 as set out in the Annex of Actions, published on 14 December last, to support the delivery of the Climate Action Plan 2021.
Ireland prepared a draft of the LTS in 2019 in line with the then climate ambition set out in Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. However, with the Programme for Government commitment to substantially increase our climate ambition, including our 2050 objective, submission of Ireland’s draft LTS to the European Commission was paused to ensure it fully aligned with our enhanced climate ambition.
In July 2021, Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted giving legal effect to a 2050 climate neutrality target. The Act also provides for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030, compared to 2018 levels, and puts in place a rigorous governance structure, including a requirement for Government to prepare a National Long Term Climate Action Strategy at least once every five-years.
As we finalise Ireland’s LTS, we will ensure that the ambition aligns with our recently legislated for climate targets, as well as making a strong contribution to the overall EU ambition of achieving climate neutrality no later than 2050 and achieving an interim reduction in overall EU greenhouse gas emissions of 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Similarly, the LTS will support our commitment to the international objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°c relative to pre-industrial levels, as established under the Paris Climate Accords and recently reaffirmed in the Glasgow Climate Pact.
Ireland, as one of several Member States still to submit its Long-term Climate Strategy, has continued to engage with the European Commission on this issue, and has fully appraised the Commission of the approach as set out above.
