Climate Change Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Ceisteanna (165)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

165. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps taken in his Department to ensure that Government Departments and offices develop structures and processes to advance the decarbonisation agenda; if a sustainability officer has been appointed in his Department; if a network of sustainability officers, similar to the networks of HR managers and ICT managers, has been established; if guidance has been developed for such officers; the duties that have been assigned to sustainability officers or to staff in any similar position; and the steps taken in his Department to ensure that Government Departments and offices begin to advance the decarbonisation agenda. [58876/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The recently published Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to the public sector leading by example in the journey to Ireland reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51% by 2030 and becoming climate neutral no later than 2050.

Each public sector body will be required, subject to its Climate Action Mandate, to define how they will reduce GHG emissions to the 2030 target of 51%, increase energy efficiency in the public sector from the 2020 33% target to 50% by 2030, and put in place a Climate Action Roadmap by the end of 2022.

The Roadmap will include appointing a Climate and Sustainability Champion at Management Board level and the establishment and resourcing of Green Teams. Each body will be required, inter alia, to incorporate sustainability training into staff learning and development programmes, organising staff workshops to engage on climate issues and report GHG emissions and sustainability activities in their annual report.