Brendan Howlin
Ceist:18. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on progress on the Climate Action Plan 2019; and the role of his Department in the delivery of same. [45465/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 13 November 2019
Ceisteanna (18)
Freagraí scríofa
The Climate Action Plan 2019: To Tackle Climate Breakdown was published on 17 June 2019. The Plan contains 183 actions, broken down into 619 individual steps, which Ireland needs to implement to meet our EU 2030 targets and achieve our longer-term low carbon transition objective.
Delivering such an integrated set of actions requires a deep level of collaboration across Government.
The Plan outlines significant new governance structures to ensure that climate policy is implemented. This includes the establishment of the Climate Action Delivery Board within my Department to hold each department and public body accountable for the delivery of actions set out in the Plan.
A Climate Action Unit has also been set up in my Department to support the Climate Action Delivery Board and the Cabinet Committee on the Environment to monitor and drive implementation of the Plan.
There is a strong focus on accountability in the Climate Action Plan including a commitment to publish progress reports quarterly, the first of which was launched on 31 October.
The First Progress Report shows that 85% of the actions due for delivery in Quarter 2 and 3 of this year have been delivered, incorporating 149 measures across sectors. Accountability for the delivery of the remaining 27 delayed items will be pursued in forthcoming quarters.
Key milestones delivered to date under the Climate Action Plan include:
- A new scheme for 1,200 on-street public charge points for electric vehicles, led by local authorities;
- A climate action focused budget, with a commitment to increase the price of carbon to €80 per tonne in 2030, and ring-fencing its proceeds for climate action and delivering a Just Transition;
- A Climate Action Delivery Board established, led by the Department of an Taoiseach;
- A retrofitting model taskforce established to deliver our new national retrofitting plan;
- Climate Change Advisory Council advice accepted to ban all new oil exploration off Irish coastal waters;
- First Luas tram extension delivered;
- New requirements to ensure that all new homes are Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) standard;
- A Local Authority Climate Action Charter signed with 31 local authorities;
- Commitment to a Just Transition Plan, with €31m secured in Budget 2020 for new measures; and
- New rules for public procurement, meaning €12bn of state investment each year will be invested sustainably.
Questions Nos. 19 to 27, inclusive, resubmitted.
Questions Nos. 28 to 38, inclusive, answered orally.