Environment Committee launches Climate Bill Report

Among the possible courses of action that might be considered are:

• That Ireland’s existing annual emission limits as agreed in March 2013 under the European Union Effort Sharing Decision, or any further modification of these, should constitute the required mitigation objectives of the Bill for the period 2013 – 2020.
• That Ireland’s annual emission limits for the periods 2030, 2040 and 2050 should be as ultimately agreed by Member States under the European Union Roadmap 2050, or any future burden sharing arrangement which is agreed at European Union level.  The Joint Committee notes that the European Union Commission’s framework for climate and energy policy is intended to be finalised before the end of 2013 and considers compliance with this, and further milestones for 2040 and 2050 as agreed with the European Union Commission, will satisfy the objectives of the Bill.
• That Ireland’s existing annual emission limits as agreed in March 2013 under the European Union Effort Sharing Decision, or any further modification of these, should constitute the required mitigation objectives of the Bill for the period 2013 – 2020.
• That the intervals between proposed national roadmaps for emission reductions should be not greater than 5 years.
• That the preparation of sectoral roadmaps for emission reductions should be subsequent to the publication of the national roadmap for the relevant period, and, in aggregation, consistent with the prior targets established by the national roadmap.
• That, conscious of the strategic national importance of the agricultural sector, and mindful of the probability that better prospects for major reductions in emissions exist in other sectors, national policy for future agricultural emissions to 2050 should be predicated on the basis of zero emissions growth relative to 2013 levels.
• That, conscious of the desirability of supporting rain-fed / grass-based agriculture as opposed to more intensive, less sustainable forms of agriculture, the Joint Committee recommend that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food investigate non-national-based emission management strategies at European Union level, such as an agricultural emissions trading scheme, in which efficient and sustainable Irish agricultural practices would be rewarded with increased emission quotas.
• That, in preparing the sectoral roadmap for agriculture, a target of carbon-neutrality be established for 2050, with measurable progress towards this scheduled for 2020, 2030 and 2040.  In establishing a methodology for the quantification of carbon sinks for this process, only acceptable criteria agreed under the prevailing Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry rules shall be permitted.
• For the purposes of the Bill, ‘Low Carbon Development’ shall be interpreted as near zero emissions for 2050 in the energy, buildings and transport sectors, and carbon neutrality in the agricultural sector. Any subsequent agreement by the Government of the day to adopt specific targets under the European Union Roadmap 2050 shall supersede this definition.
• That, recognising that the proposed legislation should incorporate principles of climate justice,  the Bill should provide for the establishment of a national Green Climate fund ring-fenced within, or separate to, the Environment Fund.  This would be used to support climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries and constitute Ireland’s contribution to the international Green Climate Fund established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.  It should receive monies from present and future carbon taxes, emissions trading profits and other environmental taxation sources, and would not receive funds from the existing overseas aid budget.
• The Expert Advisory Body shall consist of a Chairperson and not more than five other members, all of whom shall be independent of State or stakeholder interests.  It shall be supported by a Technical Secretariat composed of the Director / Director General / Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Teagasc – the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority and the Economic and Social Research Institute.  Up to two other members may be co-opted at the request of the Expert Advisory Body where it requires particular expertise.
• The Expert Advisory Body shall exercise its functions independently and obtain the assistance of the Technical Secretariat in acquiring and processing data relevant to its activities.
• The Expert Advisory Body shall be empowered to publish its Annual Reports subsequent to submitting them to the Minister and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
• The Annual Transition Report to Dáil Éireann shall be concluded by a statement from the Taoiseach as Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change detailing the progress made in emission reductions in the preceding year and outlining the programme for achieving the required reductions in each sector for the forthcoming year.

Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, said: “Climate change is one of the key issues facing the world today and it is important that we formulate the necessary policy and legislation to help Ireland move to a low carbon and environmentally sustainable economy and society.

In May, June and July of this year, the Committee held a very productive and informative series of meetings with interested parties, stakeholders and policy makers on the Outline Heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013.

This report is based on those hearings and suggests a number of possible courses of action that might be considered in future deliberations of the Bill. Our report, and the policy analysis by the National Economic and Social Council Secretariat, will be key inputs for consideration by Government in adopting a national policy position on the transition to a low-carbon future, and finalising the introduction of climate legislation in the second half of 2013.”

The Committee would like to thank all those who put their proposals before it. The Committee acknowledges that there are varying views on how Ireland can best contribute to mitigating Climate Change and it asks the Minister to give careful consideration to each and all of these and to include those proposals that he considers will enhance the efficacy of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013.

Access the report here: bit.ly/15ll2dB

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Ciaran Brennan,
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Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie

Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Luke Flanagan TD (Independent); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD;  Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).

Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).