Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action to consider Ireland’s first Carbon Budgets up to 2025

On Tuesday, 11 January, the Committee will meet at 12 noon in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House with representatives of the Climate Change Advisory Council.

On Wednesday, 12 January, the meeting at 1.30pm in Committee Room 3 will hear from Professor John Sweeney from Maynooth University, Professor Barry McMullin and Paul Price from Dublin City University and Professor Kevin Anderson from the University of Manchester.

On Thursday, 13 January, the meeting at 1.30pm in Committee Room 3 will hear from representatives of the National Economic and Social Council, Chambers Ireland, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Social Justice Ireland, The Environmental Pillar and the Irish Farmers Association.

A further meeting with senior civil servants in selected Government departments will take place next week.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Leddin said: “Carbon Budgets set the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are permitted during the budget period. The Carbon Budgets were referred to the Committee last month by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

“The Committee looks forward to engaging with our stakeholders to discuss these Carbon Budgets, with particular regard to the process and research that was taken into account when forming the budgets, the scientific basis for the budgets, including sectoral targets and ranges, and the implementation of the budgets.

“We will also consider the Departments’ role in delivering the budgets and how the budgets intersect with the Climate Plan, and whether the budgets are consistent with national objectives for reducing emissions, international best practice and with due regard given to climate justice.”

The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meetings in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas.ie.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.