Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
1471. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plans he has developed in his Department to meet the terms of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015. [41217/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the passing of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015 marked an important milestone in delineating the national response to climate change. As Minister with primary responsibility for this area, I am determined to pursue a robust, whole-of-Government approach to addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation in Ireland, in conjunction with government colleagues, relevant agencies, stakeholders and citizens.
At the core of the 2015 Act is a statutory recognition of the ‘national transition objective’ – the goal of pursuing a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. In order to facilitate the achievement of the ‘transition objective ’, the 2015 Act provides for the development and submission to Government for approval of national mitigation plans and national adaptation frameworks. In addition, the 2015 Act also established the institutional and governance framework within which these plans can be developed and implemented on a cyclical basis, together with independent advisory and accountability arrangements.
Section 14 of the 2015 Act is the key component of Oireachtas accountability. It provides that an annual transition statement must be presented to both Houses not later than 12 months after the passing of the 2015 Act and not later than each subsequent anniversary of such passing. In accordance with that provision, I arranged for a written annual transition statement to be laid in the Oireachtas library on 7 December 2016, and I made an oral presentation on the statement to Seanad Éireann and Dáil Éireann on 7 and 8 December 2016 respectively.
The annual transition statement includes an overview of climate change mitigation and adaptation policy measures adopted to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and to adapt to the effects of climate change in order to enable the achievement of the ‘national transition objective’, including progress on work relating to the development of the first national mitigation plan and national adaptation framework and related lower tier plans and strategies. The first national mitigation plan and national adaptation framework will be submitted to Government for approval not later than 10th June 2017 and 10th December 2017 respectively.
The annual transition statement also contains a record of emissions set out in the most recent EPA inventory; a projection of future emissions; a report on compliance with EU and international obligations and information on the establishment and early work of the Climate Change Advisory Council. Full details are set out in the document as laid which is also available at http://opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Library3/CCAEdoclaid071216_114543.pdf.
