Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2014
307. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when publication of the four key sectorial adaptation plans envisaged under the national policy position for tackling climate change will be; when the national adaptation plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38931/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Climate Change Adaptation Framework was published in December 2012. In relation to sectorial adaptation plans under the Framework, my Department chairs an inter-departmental steering committee to assist the relevant sectors in the work on developing their plans, which is on-going.
A key factor in the timing and progress of sectorial adaptation planning to date was the publication, in April 2013, of an EU Strategy on adaptation. A key part of this Strategy is the development of an “adaptation preparedness scoreboard” which is directly relevant to sectorial adaptation planning in Ireland, as it will identify key indicators for measuring Member States’ level of readiness. Discussions are on-going with the European Commission and Member States, and it is expected that the scoreboard will be finalised in due course. Once published, the intention would be to have the various sectorial adaptation plans adopted as soon as possible thereafter.
In parallel with the climate adaptation agenda, the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development provides for the development of a National Low-Carbon Roadmap to 2050 which is now being developed and it is within this context that Departments, with responsibility for the four key sectors, will be preparing the sectorial elements for incorporation into the national roadmap. The key sectors are electricity generation, the built environment, transport and agriculture. It is intended that a draft National Low-Carbon Roadmap, incorporating these four sectorial elements, will be made available for public consultation. In making the draft roadmap available, it will be important to also consider the outcome of negotiations on the EU’s 2030 policy framework for climate and energy and relevant advices available to Government and to the key sectors.
