Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2023
120. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can clarify if recent EPA projections of GHG emissions for the next two carbon budget adequately account for the projected overshoot in emission in the budget to 2025; if the subsequent budget for 25-30 reflects a reduced budget as a result of the first budget overshoot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28827/23]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has national responsibility to develop, prepare and publish projections of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA’s annual projections are compiled in line with EU guidelines to meet EU reporting obligations, and at a national level the projections inform policy and the monitoring and reporting of Ireland’s climate action performance to Government, under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (Amendment) 2021.
Section 6D of the 2021 Act provides that if sectoral targets and carbon budgets are not achieved, corrective or additional measures shall be introduced to ensure targets are met. The Act also provides that at the end of a five-year carbon budget period, any excess emissions will be carried forward to the next budget period, which will be reduced accordingly.
This Government is committed to addressing greenhouse gas emissions; passing one of the most ambitious climate laws in the world and mobilising the public and private sectors to deliver emissions reductions.
Work has already begun in my Department on Climate Action Plan 2024 and it is clear from the EPA projections that we must continue to act with increased scale and ambition in our response to the climate crisis.
