Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
603. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Ireland expressed any views to the European Commission on the proposed optional rather than mandatory inclusion of wetland management in the 2030 climate package in advance of the publication of the Commission's proposal; and if so, the detail of those views. [30438/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra604. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the proposed optional rather than mandatory inclusion of wetland management in the 2030 climate package. [30439/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra605. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Ireland will opt to include wetland management in its actions to implement the proposed 2030 climate package; and the research his decision in this regard is based on. [30440/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra606. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason Ireland was not represented at the UNFCCC workshop on technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items under the convention in Bonn in October 2013. [30441/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 603 to 606, inclusive, together.
The Paris Agreement is built on the premise of all parties submitting and carrying out Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) outlining the measures they will carry out to reduce their negative impacts on the environment. The European Union, as a single entity, has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels.
The specific responsibilities of individual Member States contributing to this overall EU target have yet to be agreed for the period 2021-2030. The Commission published draft proposals in this regard on 20 July last and analysis is on-going to assess the full implications of these for Ireland. The Commission proposal offers the optional inclusion of wetland management as part of a suite of climate mitigation measures which can be considered by Member States in determining their climate actions.
The role of wetlands and more specifically peatlands in this regard, in circumstances where they are in good condition and function as carbon sinks has been reported by many different national and international research projects and reports.
The draft national Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, published in 2014, notes that “restored bogs will be able to accumulate peat again and sequester carbon". This Plan, therefore, directly supports Ireland’s aim to reduce its national greenhouse gas emissions by firstly conserving those bogs that are currently sequestering carbon and secondly, by providing mitigation measures to reduce the carbon emissions from currently drained/cut bogs. Within this context, Ireland will continue to assess the role of wetland management as part of a future suite of climate change mitigation measures and the steps required should Ireland decide to elect to have wetlands included.
Reflecting the whole of government approach being taken on climate action this assessment will be done in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs who has responsibility for the programme working on the restoration of raised bogs under the EU LIFE Programme and indeed other relevant Departments/agencies concerned with the land use sector.
While I cannot comment specifically on the "workshop on technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs" , it should be noted that the National Delegation which services matters pertaining to the UNFCCC process is not always in a position to attend every workshop or side event, nor is it necessary to do so, whether at the inter-sessional meetings in Bonn or elsewhere under the Conference of the Parties Meetings.
