Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2023
162. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider developing a code of practice to assist State bodies to comply with the obligations under section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021. [14579/23]
View answerSection 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, relates to the duties of certain bodies to perform their functions in a manner consistent with -
(a) the most recent approved climate action plan, (b) the most recent approved national long term climate action strategy, (c) the most recent approved national adaptation framework and approved sectoral adaptation plans, (d) the furtherance of the national climate objective, and (e) the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.
This statutory requirement applies to all bodies that conform to the definition in Section 6(1) of the FOI Act are subject to the requirements of Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 unless they are in whole, or in part, specifically exempt, any such exemption would be pursuant to Section 6(2) or 6(3) and Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule One of the FOI Act.
A code of practice is not being developed, and in any case, would not supplant the statutory requirements of the Climate Acts. However public sector bodies are assisted complying with their obligations under the legislation through the structures and mechanisms outlined below, and further detailed in the Climate Action Plan 2023.
The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate applies to all bodies covered by decarbonisation targets, except for local authorities, commercial semi state bodies, and the school sector. The mandate highlights the main climate action objectives for public bodies and will be reviewed annually.
The mandate requires that public sector bodies put in place a Climate Action Roadmap. This roadmap is the path by which the public sector body will implement the mandate. Guidance is available from the SEAI and the EPA and will be updated annually.
The Public Sector Climate Action Strategy, which will be published shortly, sets out the leadership and governance structures that are essential for the achievement of meaningful climate action in the public sector.
The 2021 Climate Act requires each local authority to prepare a Local Authority Climate Action Plan (LA CAP) specifying the adaptation and mitigations measures to be adopted by the local authority.
In relation to commercial semi state bodies, the Climate Action Framework for this sector was approved by Government in July 2022. The framework consists of commitments that each commercial semi state body should adopt.
In relation to schools, I understand that a roadmap for this sector is under development by my colleague the Minister for Education and his officials.
