Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 September 2021
13. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the involvement his Department will have in future developments across Ireland to ensure they are sustainable and climate conscious; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43721/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for a range of policy area, including climate, environment, energy, the circular economy, natural resources, waste and communications.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits us to a 51% reduction in our overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 at the latest, and to achieving net zero emissions no later than 2050. This landmark legislation sets a legally-binding framework for Ireland to achieve the national climate objective of a transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy by 2050 at the latest. Under the new legislation, my Department will prepare for Government a Climate Action Plan, which must be updated every year so that our actions keep step with the trajectory required to achieve our targets. In addition, a national long-term climate action strategy will be prepared at least every 5 years.
The Department will also have a lead role in transforming our energy sector to a high-renewable, low-carbon system. This will include achieving 70% renewable electricity through increased onshore and offshore wind, solar, microgeneration, and grid system infrastructure. We will also need to reduce the use of fossil fuels in our homes and make them more energy efficient. This will mean a large-scale roll-out of home retrofits and the installation of heat pumps.
The circular economy offers an alternative to today’s linear - ‘take-make-waste’ - model of production and consumption, in which we extract great quantities of natural resources to make things that we may use only once before throwing them away. In a circular economy, resources are kept in use for as long as possible, the maximum value is extracted from them while in use, then recovered and repurposed into new products and materials at the end of each lifecycle. The forthcoming All-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy and related legislation will provide an overall national policy framework for the circular transition and will include measures to improve Ireland’s circularity performance.
My Department is also supporting universal access to high-speed broadband for better connected communities with service providers properly regulated, and strengthened cyber security. A fully connected digital economy and society will enhance Ireland’s competitiveness, lead to the creation of more quality employment opportunities and provide a better quality of life for individuals, communities and businesses.
