Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
128. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage emissions reduction target set for each of the next five years; the plans in place to achieve these reductions; the estimated cost of achieving same; the modelling used to underpin the assumptions on which the reductions are based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15645/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe action we take in the coming years will be critical in order to address the climate crisis, which threatens our safe future on this planet.
The Programme for Government sets out our shared commitment to achieve an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030. This is in line with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This target also aligns with the increased ambition proposed under the European Green Deal and is similar to the 7.6% per annum reduction called for in the UNEP Carbon Emissions Gap report.
As Minister for Climate Action, I will lead on delivering this ambition, which will more than halve our carbon emissions over the course of the decade. With the increased scale and depth of this ambition, new strategies will be needed to sustain a reduction trajectory that will increase over time. I will work with colleagues across government to develop a new Climate Action Plan before year end, with additional initiatives in every sector to bring about the significant change needed to transform our society. This work will build on recent policy developments and will be underpinned by a solid analytical foundation on the most cost-effective pathway to delivering our increased ambition.
While this will be challenging, requiring fundamental changes in how we live our lives, we will improve the health, welfare and security of our society, as well as realising enormous opportunities in a new, decarbonised economy. To this end, the government is committed to ensuring that the economic recovery is a green recovery delivered in a fair way that ensures no sector of society is left behind. The July Stimulus and the National Economic Plan will seek to front-load investment to this end.
