Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
129. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the review of greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan annex of actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31170/23]
View answerThe Economic and Social Research Institute’s recently published working paper ‘The Global Emissions Impact of Irish Consumption’ noted that despite the high level of emissions embedded in Irish agricultural products, Ireland imports considerably more emissions than it exports. While Ireland’s climate policy primarily focuses on reducing production-based emissions in line with international accounting rules for national greenhouse gas inventories, it also considers the wider impacts of climate policy, including consumption-based emissions.
Our 2023 Climate Action Plan sets out a series of cross-cutting and circular economy policies which will shape public procurement and the use of resources in our economy. Other policies included in the 2023 Climate Action Plan aiming to target production-based emissions can also reduce our carbon footprint. For example, policies designed to stimulate demand for alternative construction materials will lower the use of high carbon intensive products.
A well-established circular economy provides more access to better designed products, which can be shared, reused, repaired and remade thereby minimising the use of resources. This provides opportunities for local manufacture and remanufacture, supporting jobs and services while reducing the impact on the quality of our water, air, soil and health. Moving to a circular economy will play an important part in reducing global carbon emissions and protecting our natural resources, environment and health. The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 is a key step in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy and provides a robust statutory framework for moving from a focus on managing waste to a much greater focus on adapting patterns of production and consumption.
At EU-level, agreement has been reached on the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. In addition to reducing carbon leakage and enabling a reduction in the free allocation of allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System, the policy will also incentivise emissions reductions in third countries. This protects Irish and EU industries facing carbon pricing from cheaper carbon-intensive imports, while ensuring that high emissions production processes are not simply relocated to third countries.
