Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2022
169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will publish the McKinsey Report on the cost of decarbonisation up to 2050; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45978/22]
View answerMy Department engaged technical support and sought input from a range of bodies and organisations to support and inform the preparation of a Long-term Climate Action Strategy (LTS) in 2019, in line with the then climate ambition set out in Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. This included analysis on potential decarbonisation pathways. 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. While preparing the LTS, we are ensuring that the ambition aligns with our recently legislated for national 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 Agreement, and reaffirmed in the Glasgow Climate Pact. As the process to finalise Ireland’s LTS is continuing, analysis, including reports from consultants, is still ongoing and, once completed, it can be published.
